CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when his Department's whistleblowing procedures were reviewed to reflect the provisions in the revised Civil Service Code.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's whistleblowing procedures were reviewed last year to reflect the provisions in the revised Civil Service Code. The procedures are brought to the attention of all staff annually. This year's reminder was issued in October.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in his Department earned a salary over £100,000 in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the "Resource Accounts" published on the Departments website for each of the years from 1999. The links for each year are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Link 
			 1999-2001 and 2000-01 http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2C760A28-DB6B-49D8-9C2E-6137F8C7E029/0/resourceaccounting200001.pdf 
			   
			 2001-02 http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E7AOC4B8-FC61-4CEF-9323-AD4C10F8A005/0/DCMSresourceacc0102.pdf 
			   
			 2003-04 and 2004-05 http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/997DF8D1-7D80-41EA-916A-2D2592407D37/0/Resourceaccounts0405.pdf 
			   
			 2005-06 http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/77492537-CA41-47DO-B190-OE9871F526E3/0/Resource_accounts_2005_2006.pdf 
			   
			 2006-07 http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8493F432-266C-4690-85CO-DE4FDFDC4D50/0/dcmsresourceaccounts_200607_pdf 
		
	
	Three staff were recorded as having salaries over £75,000 during the 1997-98 financial year. A more detailed breakdown is not available.

Departmental Secondment

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Department in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I am arranging to deposit in the House Libraries, tables that breakdown secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; and how many staff were seconded in each year.
	We are unable to provide information on how long each secondment lasted as we do not hold this information centrally and would only be able to provide it at disproportionate cost.
	The Department incurred no cost for the secondments going out of the Department as it is our policy is to seek reimbursement in full from the receiving organisation.
	We are unable to provide information as to the cost of the secondments coming into the Department as this is not held centrally but by each Division within the Department and the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on raising the awareness of  (a) pensioners,  (b) people on low incomes and  (c) vulnerable individuals of digital switchover.

James Purnell: The figures from the Ofcom/Digital UK Switchover Tracker Survey showed that awareness of switchover had increased between Q2 2006 and Q2 2007  (a) among people aged 75 and above from 63 per cent. to 81 per cent.,  (b) among people on low incomes from 59 per cent. to 83 per cent. and  (c) among people with disabilities from 68 per cent. to 90 per cent.
	Between now and switchover, Digital UK will be communicating with every TV viewing household in the country to ensure they can prepare for the change. Digital UK is also mounting media campaigns, which get more intensive the nearer a region is to its switchthis is on billboards, newspapers, radio, TV etc. Digital UK's call centre offers advice on all aspects of switchover. This is complemented by its website, where a postcode checker offers precise information on present and post-switchover coverage and the options available for getting digital TV.
	In addition, the Digital Switchover Help Scheme will be in touch with everyone who is either aged 75 and older or has a disability to provide them with assistance to go digital.
	This work by both Digital UK and the Digital Switchover Help Scheme can be seen in the successful switch in Whitehaven.

Museums and Galleries: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on national and regional museums and galleries in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Funding in each of the last five years from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for National and Regional Museums and Galleries is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Museums  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Total grant in aid to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries(1) 268.1 279.45 285.95 296.7 320.06 
			   
			 Total grant in aid to the Museums Libraries and Archives Council for the Renaissance in the Regions programme 10.0 11.2 21.0 30.0 32.0 
			 (1) Comprises grant-in-aid to the 22 sponsored museums

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department allocated to  (a) community and  (b) school sport in each year since 1990.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS does not directly fund community or school sport, but makes an annual grant in aid allocation to Sport England which then funds school and community projects.
	It is not possible to provide the requested information back to 1990 because:
	The National School Sports Strategy was launched in 2003; and
	Sport England changed its budget management software at the start of 2001-02 and it does not have information before that date readily available.
	A breakdown of awards made in the requested categories is as follows:
	 (a) Community Sport
	
		
			   Exchequer ( million) 
			 2001 8.2 
			 2002 9.3 
			 2003 8.0 
			 2004 12.1 
			 2005 30.1 
			 2006 33.6 
			 2007 36.1 
			 Total 137.4 
		
	
	
		
			   Lottery ( million) 
			 2001 139.3 
			 2002 172.3 
			 2003 136.5 
			 2004 111.4 
			 2005 103.3 
			 2006 86.8 
			 2007 99.7 
			 Total 849.3 
		
	
	 (b) School Sport
	
		
			   Exchequer ( million) 
			 2003 27.0 
			 2004 38.0 
			 2005 45.0 
			 2006 44.8 
			 2007 44.8 
			 Total 199.6 
		
	
	It should be noted that following the Prime Minister's announcement in July of an extra 100 million for school sport, from 2008 we can begin to offer all children in England aged five to 16 five hours of sport per week, and three hours for young people aged 16 to 19.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials from her Office, broken down by grade, attended the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism on 15 November; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The cross-government working group on anti-Semitism did not meet on the 15 November 2007. However, my officials and I met with representatives of the three Jewish organisations, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust, that form part of the working group to discuss the work of the group and other issues of concern to the Jewish Community.

Coastal Areas: Foreign Workers

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of migrant worker populations on the development of coastal towns; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: A recent submission by the Home Office and DWP to the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs sets out the Government's most recent analysis of the economic and fiscal impact of immigration on the UK economy.
	In the Government's Second Response to the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government's Report on Coastal Towns, published on 21 November 2007, my Department refers to a review it has recently commissioned of the issues, evidence-based and research needs concerning coastal towns.

Council Housing: Children

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to review the guidance issued to local authorities in regard to the allocation of social housing to families where child custody is shared.

Iain Wright: The code of guidance for local authorities on the allocation of accommodation does not provide advice on the allocation of social housing to families where child custody is shared. However, the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities does provide advice in relation to this issue which will be relevant in the allocations context. There are no plans to review this guidance. However, we will ensure that, when the allocations code of guidance is revised in due course, advice is provided specifically on this issue.

Council Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much subsidy was paid to the Housing Revenue Account of each local authority in respect of its council housing provision in each year since 1990.

Iain Wright: A table showing the value of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy paid to each authority (that is, in deficit rather than HRA subsidy surplus) from 1995-96 to 2005-06 (the last year for which audited data is available) has been placed in the Library. The table shows the value of the 'bricks and mortar' element of HRA subsidy. Prior to 2004, HRA subsidy also contained a rent rebate element. This is omitted from the table to ensure consistency with post 2004-05 data.
	Pre 1995-96 data is only available at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: All procurement is undertaken in line with the European Commission's procurement rules and to obtain value for money. Where possible, British products are used.

Departmental Consultants

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts her Department has with external consultants; what the total value, including all VAT and disbursements, of these contracts are for the current financial year; how long each contract lasts; and what the forecast total value is of each contract.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department's financial systems can identify all the contracts awarded for over 20,000 for this financial year. The following table shows the supplier, date of the contract award and the contract value, together with a brief description of the nature of the contract.
	
		
			  Supplier  Contract value ()  Contract award date  Description 
			 7E COMMUNICATIONS LTD 328,960.00 21 February 2007 Enhanced Command Support Satellite System 
			 ABTECH SAFETY LTD 80,991.12 7 March 2007 Confind Space Rescue Equipment for Urban Search And Research 
			 ACTICA CONSULTING LTD 1,840,000.00 17 October 2007 Security and Resilience Consultancy for Firecontrol 
			 ACTICA CONSULTING LTD 40,300.00 24 July 2007 Impact of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) Modernisation Programme 
			 AEA TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT 1,093,881.80 1 April 2007 Communities' Building Regs Research and Tech Support 
			 AHL BUSINESS ASSURANCE LT 40,000.00 30 April 2007 Provision of Internal Audit Services 
			 ALPINE RESOURCING LTD 176,800.00 1 August 2007 Commercial Director for Firecontrol Project Team 
			 ALSBRIDGE LTD 41,000.00 11 June 2007 Local Management Accounting Team Review 
			 AMTEC CONSULTING LTD 75,520.00 5 March 2007 Project Manager for Commission For Equalities And Human Rights 
			 APTO 30,000.00 31 August 2007 Planning Portal Adobe Forms Development 
			 ASTRON DOCUMENT SERVICES 120,000.00 1 October 2007 Communities' File Covers 
			 AUTO ELECTRICAL SERVS (MA 1,064,054.44 21 February 2007 Enhanced Command Support Vehicles 
			 BADENOCH AND CLARK 33,670.00 4 October 2007 Build Template Business Cases 
			 BADENOCH AND CLARK 375,000.00 6 August 2007 Lead Advisor on City, Regional and Economic Dev. 
			 BADENOCH AND CLARK 185,000.00 14 May 2007 Human Resource Software (PIMS) Project Manger 
			 BADENOCH AND CLARK 135,000.00 28 February 2007 Procurement Advice Notice Government Agreement Competitive Dialogue 
			 BIZZIMOGUL 119,850.00 10 August 2007 Information Technology Services for Peoplesoft Information Management System Enhancement Programme 
			 BRAVOSOLUTION UK LTD 120,441.00 1 January 2006 Firecontrol Project E-Sourcing Services 
			 CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS RESEARCH LTD 48,000.00 15 May 2007 Prov of Economic Support to The Strategic Review 
			 CERTES COMPUTING LTD 40,000.00 9 July 2007 Extempsible Mark-Up Language (XML) Schemas Specialist 
			 COMPUTER PEOPLE LTD 26,030.00 1 July 2007 Data Architect 
			 COMPUTER PEOPLE LTD 106,492.00 1 October 2007 Single National Planning Application Project Manager 
			 Concerto Consulting 70,000.00 30 August 2007 Home Improvement PackEnergy AdviserDavid Lane 
			 CORNWELL MANAGEMENT CONSU 2,590,000.00 26 May 2005 Provision of Security and Resilience Consultancy 
			 DONALDSONS 210,000.00 27 February 2004 Firecontrol ProjectProperty Advisors 
			 DTZ CONSULTING AND RESEARCH 63,500.00 1 December 2006 Consultancy for Evidence on Integration And Cohesion 
			 EADS DEFENCE AND SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD 213,776,669.00 30 March 2007 Technology and Control Centre Infrastructure 
			 ENTEC UK LTD 69,049.00 9 July 2007 Research on Non Domestic Microgeneration 
			 FAITHWISE LTD 75,000.00 1 January 2007 Special Adviser to the Preventing Extremism Unit 
			 FIELD FISHER WATERHOUSE 51,871.44 30 May 2007 Fire and Rescue Guidance Review 
			 FRAIKIN LTD 1,643,433.36 2 April 2007 Fleet Management and Maintenance 
			 GREENSTREET BERMAN LTD 28,195.00 6 August 2007 Local Target Setting for Fire and Rescue Service 
			 GWS Ltd 191,590.80 11 July 2007 Lnfc4localGraphic Design and Typesetting Service 
			 HEDRA PLC 149,352.50 19 April 2007 Government Office Transformation Programme 
			 HEDRA PLC 217,800.00 22 August 2007 Commercial Register Delivery Manager 
			 Informed Solutions Ltd 118,255.00 6 September 2007 Deprivation Index Mapping Tool 
			 Informed Solutions Ltd 78,741.00 2 October 2007 Data Interchange Hub (IT) 
			 INFOTERRA 48,500.00 1 April 2007 Procurement of Aerial Imagery 
			 INNOGISTIC SOFTWARE PLC 72,000.00 1 April 2006 Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Support and Maintenance 
			 Insight Management and Systems Ltd 75,000.00 16 August 2007 Thames Gateway Programme Systems Executive 
			 INTELLIGENT ADDRESSING LT 20,800.00 26 June 2007 National Land and Property Gazetteer Data 
			 KATE MCALLISTER CONSULTAN 41,710.00 29 May 2007 Supporting People and Disabled Facilities Grant 
			 KPMG 160,493.00 2 May 2007 Home Improvement PackLocal Authority Charging Options Consultancy 
			 LA INT COMPUTER CONSULTAN 53,328.00 1 October 2007 Test Development to the Fire Control Project 
			 LA INT COMPUTER CONSULTAN 57,600.00 26 July 2007 Commercial Register Senior Requirements Analyst 
			 LA International 80,000.00 30 August 2007 Planning Portal E-Consultation Development Project Manager 
			 LA International 21,109.00 22 October 2007 Planning PortalE-Consultation Take Up Consultant 
			 LA International 51,000.00 5 November 2007 Data Interchange HubProject Manager 
			 MACDONALD HUMFREY (AUTOMATION) LTD 368,760.00 29 June 2007 Mass Decontamination Flow Control System 
			 MET OFFICE 100,000.00 1 October 2006 Met OfficeWeather Services 
			 Morgan Hunt 110,000.00 1 August 2007 Thames Gateway Head of Finance 
			 MOTT MACDONALD LTD 221,892.00 14 February 2007 Appointment of a National Project Manager 
			 N 0 P MARKET RESEARCH GRO 59,595.00 1 October 2007 Feasibility Study for Communities Attitudes Survey 
			 NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIA 93,950.00 14 May 2007 Training for the Senior Civil Service Analytical Techniques 
			 NESCOMMS LTD 49,350.00 29 September 2007 Service Level Manager 
			 OGC 84,161.00 2 May 2007 Thames Gateway Project Mgt And Planning Consultant 
			 OPERATIONAL RSEARCH IN HE 30,920.00 2 July 2007 Analysis on the Current P and P For Co-Responding 
			 OUTREACH ORGANISATION LTD 164,000.00 4 June 2007 Line Access and Casualty Management Training 
			 OVE ARUP AND PARTNERS 98,499.00 24 July 2007 Planning for a Sustainable Future 
			 PA Consulting 956,000.00 28 September 2007 Home Improvement Pack Programme Support Agreement 
			 PARITY RESOURCES 68,000.00 17 August 2007 Link Project Manager 
			 Parity Resources 23,400.00 14 June 2007 Supporting PeopleProject Resource Agreement 
			 Parity Resources 76,500.00 31 July 2007 Thames Gateway Project Manager 
			 Parity Resources 47,144.00 16 August 2007 Thames Gateway Data Analyst 
			 Parity Resources 51,063.00 19 October 2007 Planning Portal E-Consultation Set Baseline 4 Benefits Measuring 
			 PARITY SOLUTIONS LTD 68,000.00 17 August 2007 Communities IT Network (Link) Project Manager 
			 PARITY SOLUTIONS LTD 66,360.00 22 August 2007 Test Development to the Fire Control Project 
			 PKF 100,000.00 24 October 2005 Finance, Accountancy and Taxation Advisory Services 
			 PPAL 44,850.00 27 July 2007 Planning Portal E-Planning Local Authority Web Site Review 
			 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS 63,000.00 12 October 2006 Support Preparation for Sustainable Homessylvia Bu 
			 REED PERSONNEL SERVICES P 82,400.00 5 March 2007 Project Manager for Commission for Equalities and Human Rights 
			 REED PERSONNEL SERVICES P 82,400.00 12 March 2007 Project Manager and Human Resource Projects for Commission for Equalities and Human Rights 
			 REED PERSONNEL SERVICES P 59,200.00 12 March 2007 Workstream Leader for Commission for Equalities and Human Rights 
			 RESPIREX INTERNATIONAL 56,625.36 25 July 2007 Power Respirator Protective SuitAir Filter Unit 
			 Secor Consulting 21,720.00 10 September 2007 Listed Advice Scheme Support Contract 
			 Securetest 27,700.00 25 October 2007 SecuretestAdvice Only 
			 Serco (Prev Cornwell) 25,200.00 4 July 2007 IT Support 
			 Serco Consulting 41,650.00 14 November 2007 TelephonyExpert Input to Telephony Strategy 
			 SERCO LTD 10,460,669.00 3 May 2006 New Dimension Project 
			 SJ PROCUREMENT LTD 30,000.00 23 October 2007 Procurement Capability Review Support 
			 TRIBAL HCH LTD 215,000.00 2 April 2007 Consulting Support to the Commission of Equalities and Human Rights 
			 TURNER AND TOWNSEND (134266 156,600.00 17 April 2007 Firecontrol Project Provision of Regional Control Centre Tenants Rep 
			 VEGA GROUP PLC 252,985.00 16 April 2007 Electronic Collection Of Fire and Research Service Operation Statistics 
			 VENN GROUP 63,180.00 3 September 2007 Provision of a Contract Accountant For Fire Control 
			 WEST OF ENGLAND UNIVERSIT 174,705.00 22 March 2007 Foundation Degree in Development Management 
			 WHITE CONSULTANTS LTD 306,340.00 1 April 2007 Support for Transformation Including New Ways of Working 
			 WHITE YOUNG GREEN 128,843.25 10 July 2007 A Review of Non-Household Minor Developments 
			 WHITEHEAD MANN LTD 100,000.00 6 July 2007 Recruitment of CEO for Homes and Community Agency 
			 WILTSHIRE COLLEGE 127,239.78 20 July 2007 Urban Search and Rescue Chainsaw Course Instruction 
			 ZURICH RISK SERVICES 24,166.80 21 August 2007 New Dimension Lifting of Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) Inspections 
			  241,108,104.53

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the provisions of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Bill, if enacted, on the distribution of free food to the homeless.

John Healey: holding answer 21 November 2007
	Following consultation on the provisions of their forthcoming London Local Authorities Bill, London councils confirmed on 16 November that London boroughs will not be proposing any provisions related to the distribution of free food. Accordingly, the Government has made no assessment of such a provision.

Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the basis is for the assumptions for rent receipts allowances and interest rates for future years being used in the six authorities' pilot study for examining the removal of local authorities from the national housing revenue account.

Iain Wright: The modelling work used as an assumption that current policies would continue. On this basis, it assumed that rents would increase at RPI + 0.5 per cent. following convergence with formula rents in 2011-12 and that allowances would rise in line with GDP. Interest charges were based on local consolidated rate of interest forecasts. The modelling work however also tested sensitivity to changes in all the variables which have an impact on a business plan, including debt levels, interest and inflation rates, expenditure levels, rental and other income, and sales. The 30-year model business plans run well beyond medium term forecasts and policy commitments so it is important to consider a wide range of scenarios.

Local Government: Standards

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data will be used to measure each national indicator; and what the source of each dataset will be, broken down by indicator.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 November 2007,  Official Report, column 372W.

Ministerial Duties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the formal responsibilities are of the Ministers for  (a) the north east,  (b) the north west,  (c) Yorkshire and the Humber,  (d) London,  (e) the south east,  (f) the south west,  (g) the East Midlands,  (h) the West Midlands and  (i) the east of England.

Hazel Blears: All regional Ministers have the same formal responsibilities. These responsibilities are set out in The Governance of Britain (Cm. 7170 published on 3 July 2007).

Regeneration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions her Department has had on the development of successor arrangements for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund with  (a) Birmingham city council,  (b) Birmingham strategic partnership and  (c) and local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: We confirmed at the time of the CSR announcement, that we intend to respond to the recommendations of the Sub-National Review and concentrate greater regeneration effort on tackling worklessness through the establishment of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
	The new Indices of Deprivation 2007, due to be released shortly, will provide more up-to-date data on the pattern of deprivation on which to base our decisions. Further details will be available at the time of the Local Government Finance Settlement in December.

Rent: Social Security Benefits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what amount of rent benefits was paid in each local authority in Hampshire in each year since 2000-01; what estimate she has made of the number of eligible people not claiming such benefits in each local authority; and if she will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply
	Estimates of eligible people not claiming housing benefit are not available below Great Britain level.
	Estimates for Great Britain are published in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up series. The latest date for which figures are available relate to 2005-06. Copies are available in the Library.
	Information regarding the total amount of housing benefit paid in each local authority in Hampshire since 2000-01 is in the following table.
	
		
			  Total housing benefit paid in each local authority in Hampshire since 2000-01 
			   million 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Basingstoke 18.8 19.5 23.1 22.2 23.8 25.8 28.1 
			 East Hampshire 11.5 11.9 12.6 12.7 13.7 14.6 15.3 
			 Eastleigh 13.4 13.7 14.4 14.6 15.8 17.0 19.6 
			 Fareham 7.9 8.1 9.3 8.6 9.1 10.0 10.8 
			 Gosport 11.9 12.1 12.9 12.9 13.8 15.1 16.1 
			 Hart 5.3 5.5 6.2 6.4 6.7 7.5 8.3 
			 Havant 13.7 14.3 15.5 14.9 16.2 18.0 19.5 
			 New Forest 20.5 21.4 23.3 22.8 24.5 25.9 27.3 
			 Rushmoor 11.3 11.5 12.5 13.2 14.6 16.4 17.7 
			 Test Valley 10.7 11.9 13.6 12.6 14.1 15.2 16.7 
			 Winchester 12.2 12.7 14.6 13.4 14.0 15.1 16.3 
			 Portsmouth 51 50.9 56 54.1 58.1 62.4 68.8 
			 Southampton 50.4 51.3 54.5 55.5 56.6 60.4 65.1 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. Figures prior to 2006-07 are audited, but may change in future if local authorities audited accounts are amended after a decision or appeal. Figures for recent years are more likely to be amended than older data. 3. 2006-07 figures are initial final (pre-audited) and are subject to change. 4. Figures relate to what local authorities spend on claimants and include discretionary expenditure (mainly disregards of war pensions), and overpayments except where benefit has been granted in advance (where the benefit is paid in the form of a rebate). 5. From 1999-2000 onwards, housing and council tax benefit expenditure on asylum seekers was funded by the National Asylum Support Service, and is therefore excluded from the figures presented in GB level DWP benefit expenditure tables. However, local authority level information includes all expenditure on these benefits relating to asylum seekers, as it is not possible to isolate at this level that part which applies to asylum seekers. 6. Years up to 2005-06 are available at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure.asp  Source: Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit and council tax benefit subsidy.

Small Businesses: Non-Domestic Rates

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme among small businesses.

John Healey: Changes introduced in 2006 by Communities and Local Government to the Small Business Rate Relief scheme removed the previous requirement to make an application for relief every year, making it easier for eligible ratepayers to apply for and benefit from relief. The 2007 pre-Budget report and Comprehensive Spending Review announced the Government's intention to bring forward proposals to simplify the current set of business rate reliefs, of which small business rate relief is one, to provide greater clarity for ratepayers and certainty for those who administer the business rate system.

Social Rented Housing: Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many antisocial behaviour order injunctions were instigated by registered social landlords in the Peterborough city council area in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Collection of information on the use of antisocial behaviour injunctions by RSLs is performed by the Housing Corporation via its annual regulatory and statistical returns.
	The information is provided by individual RSLs on a national basis (i.e. the number of injunctions they have instigated across all their operations). It is therefore not possible to aggregate data for a particular locality (in which a number of different RSLs own or manage housing stock).
	Overall data for 2005-06 shows an increase in the use of antisocial behaviour injunctions (ASBIs) by RSLs (758). They are proving a popular and effective tool to combat antisocial behaviour (by comparison, RSLs reported the use of 318 ASBOs over the same period).
	Martin Cave's review identifies aggregation of performance data against local authority areas as one the new housing regulator (OFTENANT) should take up.

Social Sector Working Party

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to reinstate the meeting of the Social Sector Working Party.

John Healey: The chief executive of LEASE chairs the Social Sector Working Party. He postponed the planned meeting of 11 September because a number of the members could not attend. Subsequently the chief executive has retired and a new chief executive, Anthony Essien, took up post on 15 October 2007. Working Party members have been notified that there will be a short delay in arranging the next meeting. We would expect the next meeting to take place early in the new year.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops were contributed by each of the nations participating in International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan in the last period for which figure are available.

Des Browne: The current ISAF strength is approximately 42,000 personnel from 38 countries. The UK is the second largest contributor with approximately 7,800 personnel. Details of individual national contributions are available on the ISAF website,
	www.nato.int/isaf/index.html.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the receipt of  (a) war disablement pensions and  (b) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments in the calculations of child support payments.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 20 November 2007
	There have not been any discussions held regarding this matter.

Armed Forces: Desertion

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces reported absent without leave between January 2004 and October 2007 were  (a) male and  (b) female.

Bob Ainsworth: The breakdown of male and female personnel reported absent without leave between January 2004 and October 2007 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Army is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of Royal Navy personnel broken down into male and female who have been reported absent without leave between January 2004 and October 2007 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Male  Female  Total 
			 2004 174 10 184 
			 2005 180 16 196 
			 2006 148 9 157 
			 2007 to 31 October 108 7 115 
			 Total 610 42 652

Armed Forces: Discharges

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel left  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force because of (i) premature voluntary release, (ii) redundancy, (iii) retirement and (iv) other reasons in each year since 1997; and what percentage of each category were (A) single, (B) married without children, (C) married with children, (D) divorced without children and (E) divorced with children.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows outflow data from the UK Regular Armed Forces for each service by exit reason and marital status in each financial year from 1997-98.
	Outflow figures broken down by marital status are not available for Army and RAF officers.
	Figures relating to dependent children are only available for Army Other Ranks.
	Due to the way marital status was recorded in personnel databases, Naval Service figures for married personnel do not include those married personnel not in receipt of a married person's allowance, while single and divorced personnel cannot be shown separately.
	Information relating to marital status is not held centrally for RAF after 1 March 2006, Naval Service after 1 October 2006, and for Army after 1 March 2007, following the phased implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system.
	The term Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) is now known as Voluntary Outflow (VO) although the methodology remains the same. Time Expiry includes all personnel completing their contracted period of service. Other wastage includes outflow due to medical reasons, for misconduct, dismissals and death, among others.
	
		
			  Outflow from UK Regular Forces by Service and Marital Status 
			  Number and percentage 
			1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Naval Service( 1)  5,270 5,530 5,800 5,030 5,800 5,290 4,770 4,630 4,490 (2)4,310 
			 
			  Officer  620 540 570 480 530 510 470 510 520 (2)500 
			  Trained  500 450 500 410 450 390 380 420 430 (2)400 
			   Voluntary Outflow 170 160 240 170 230 170 160 170 190 (2)210 
			  Married (%) 75 81 76 77 80 70 70 71 74 n/a 
			   Time Expiry 290 260 220 200 180 180 190 190 190 (2)160 
			  Married (%) 79 81 79 84 81 88 84 82 85 n/a 
			   Redundancy  (2) 
			  Married (%)  n/a 
			   Other wastage 40 30 50 40 40 50 30 60 50 (2)40 
			  Married (%) 53 61 65 70 73 61 48 65 70 n/a 
			 
			  Untrained  120 80 70 80 80 120 90 90 90 (2)100 
			 
			  Ranks  4,650 4,990 5,230 4,550 5,270 4,780 4,300 4,130 3,960 (2)3,810 
			  Trained  3,560 3,600 3,610 3,120 3,580 3,160 3,060 3,170 2,870 (2)2,790 
			   Voluntary Outflow 1,750 1,710 1,680 1,330 1,970 1,590 1,680 1,860 1,700 (2)1,750 
			  Married (%) 37 40 43 43 38 34 32 33 33 n/a 
			   Time Expiry 1,190 1,170 1,110 1,000 880 880 740 580 420 (2)420 
			  Married (%) 80 81 78 78 74 77 74 75 76 n/a 
			   Redundancy   
			  Married (%)   
			   Other wastage 620 730 820 790 730 690 630 730 750 (2)620 
			  Married (%) 42 38 36 31 33 29 24 28 24 n/a 
			 
			  Untrained  1,080 1,390 1,610 1,430 1,680 1,620 1,250 960 1,100 (2)1,020 
			  Army  14,470 17,050 16,200 15,230 14,380 14,560 14,600 15,070 14,190 (2)15,780 
			 
			  Officer  1,040 1,310 1,120 1,150 1,090 980 950 1,100 1,070 (2)1,330 
			  Trained  960 1,050 890 900 900 800 780 900 980 (2)1,110 
			  Voluntary Outflow 460 510 440 530 540 440 500 530 590 n/a 
			  Time Expiry 450 470 370 320 320 300 240 320 340 n/a 
			  Redundancy  n/a 
			  Other wastage 40 60 80 50 40 50 40 50 50 n/a 
			 
			  Untrained 80 260 220 260 190 180 170 200 90 (2)220 
			 
			  Ranks  13,430 15,740 15,090 14,080 13,290 13,580 13,640 13,970 13,120 (2)14,440 
			  Trained  9,250 9,710 9,110 9,180 9,090 8,870 8,790 9,840 9,520 (2)9,820 
			   Voluntary Outflow 5,740 5,950 5,310 5,310 4,980 4,610 4,500 4,880 4,620 n/a 
			  Single (%) 51 50 54 55 59 60 61 61 62 n/a 
			  Married without children 20 20 19 18 18 16 15 15 14 n/a 
			  Married with children (%) 25 26 23 23 20 21 20 21 20 n/a 
			  Divorced without children (%) 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 n/a 
			  Divorced with children (%) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 n/a 
			   Time Expiry 1,560 1,720 1,770 1,730 1,690 1,810 1,570 1,840 2,290 n/a 
			  Single (%) 11 13 8 8 6 6 5 6 6 n/a 
			  Married without children (%) 9 10 9 9 8 8 10 10 9 n/a 
			  Married with children (%) 74 69 75 73 78 77 74 75 74 n/a 
			  Divorced without children (%) 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 n/a 
			  Divorced with children (%) 4 5 5 7 7 7 8 7 8 n/a 
			   Redundancy  n/a 
			  Married without children  n/a 
			  Divorced with children  n/a 
			   Other wastage 1,940 2,050 2,030 2,130 2,410 2,460 2,720 3,110 2,610 n/a 
			  Single (%) 61 66 68 74 78 76 81 81 79 n/a 
			  Married without children (%) 13 11 11 9 7 9 7 7 8 n/a 
			  Married with children (%) 24 21 19 15 13 14 11 10 12 n/a 
			  Divorced without children (%) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 n/a 
			  Divorced with children (%) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n/a 
			 
			  Untrained  4,180 6,030 5,980 4,900 4,200 4,700 4,850 4,130 3,600 (2)4,620 
			 
			  RAF  4,610 4,890 4,620 4,680 4,530 4,250 4,040 3,730 4,590 5,070 
			 
			  Officer  620 660 600 660 670 580 620 700 700 850 
			  Trained  580 610 560 610 620 530 580 640 670 800 
			   Voluntary Outflow 220 240 210 240 280 200 200 240 230 260 
			  Time Expiry 340 330 310 340 310 310 330 360 350 370 
			  Redundancy 40 110 
			  Other wastage 30 30 40 30 30 20 40 40 50 60 
			 
			  Untrained  40 50 40 40 50 50 40 60 30 50 
			 
			  Ranks  3,990 4,230 4,020 4,020 3,860 3,670 3,410 3,020 3,890 4,220 
			   Trained 3,540 3,590 3,380 3,380 3,290 3,090 2,880 2,630 3,670 3,930 
			  Voluntary Outflow 1,560 1,740 1,760 1,690 1,740 1,530 1,440 1,490 1,840 1,640 
			  Single 35 31 27 33 34 30 36 38 46 n/a 
			  Married 61 64 68 62 62 65 59 57 50 n/a 
			  Divorced 4 4 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 n/a 
			   Time Expiry 1,630 1,590 1,320 1,400 1,290 1,180 820 640 870 890 
			  Single (%) 24 23 27 19 18 15 15 13 16 n/a 
			  Married (%) 71 71 74 74 75 78 79 78 75 n/a 
			  Divorced (%) 5 6 6 8 7 7 6 9 9 n/a 
			 
			   Redundancy 490 1,060 
			  Single (%) 4 n/a 
			  Married (%) 88 n/a 
			  Divorced (%) 8 n/a 
			 
			   Other wastage 350 260 300 300 260 380 620 490 470 360 
			  Single (%) 30 34 40 41 41 72 62 65 59 n/a 
			  Married (%) 66 60 57 53 55 25 33 33 38 n/a 
			  Divorced (%) 5 6 4 6 3 3 5 2 2 n/a 
			 
			  Untrained  450 640 640 640 570 580 530 400 220 280 
			 n/a = Unavailable  = zero or rounded to zero. (1) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines. (2) Provisional.  Notes: 1. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2. Percentages are calculated from unrounded data. 3. Due to ongoing validation of data from the new Joint Personnel Administration system, Naval Service statistics for 1 October 2006 onwards and Army statistics for 1 March 2007 onwards are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving military personnel live in  (a) Enfield and  (b) Enfield North constituency.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Fundraising

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was raised by Defence Estates in each year since its creation from the proceeds of charges levied on services' fundraising organisers for the use of estate facilities.

Derek Twigg: Records of the charges levied are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Fundraising

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was raised by his Department from the proceeds of charges levied on services' fundraising organisers for the use of estate facilities in each of the five years prior to the creation of Defence Estates.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) has been and  (b) will be released to the Treasury under arrangement with Annington Homes for the return to Annington Homes of void married quarters in each year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Under the terms of the Profit Share Agreement with Annington Homes Ltd., the Treasury has received some 150 million to date. The calculation of the profit share is dependent on the number of properties released, and the proceeds made on their disposal. It is not possible to predict a figure for future receipts.
	The breakdown of amounts received by calendar year is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 1997 2.3 
			 1998 2.5 
			 1999 6.8 
			 2000 7.9 
			 2001 15.6 
			 2002 21.0 
			 2003 34.8 
			 2004 15.9 
			 2005 19.2 
			 2006 14.3 
			 2007 9.5 
		
	
	It should be noted that the profit share follows disposal of the properties and not their return to Annington Homes Ltd.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects married quarters to reach the Decent Homes Standard applicable to social housing by 2010.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1631W, to the hon. Members for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) and Colchester (Bob Russell).

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of military vehicles have been cannibalised in each year since 2003, broken down by type;
	(2)  how many components from each type of military vehicle have been cannibalised in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Cannibalisation of land vehicles is rare and cannibalisation rates are not significant indicators of performance against target availability levels. Vehicle availability on operations continues to be high.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the rebuilding of the facility at Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield on the decommissioning of Trident warheads.

Des Browne: None.

Defence: Procurement

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Industrial Strategy II will be published.

Bob Ainsworth: We are currently reviewing the timetable for the publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy and will inform the House in due course.

Departmental Expenditure

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's hospitality and entertainment budget is for 2007-08.

Bob Ainsworth: The departmental budget for hospitality and entertainment in 2007-08 is 6.228 million.

Departmental Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Currently seven full-time equivalent members of staff are employed in marketing and brand management in the Ministry of Defence Directorate of Public Relations. The staff work on both branding and marketing. Between 1 November 2006 and 31 October 2007, the amount spent on these staff, based on capitation rates, is 470,477. Of this figure 313,061 was spent on military staff and 157,416 was spent on civilian staff.
	Defence agencies, top level budgets areas, trading funds, joint headquarters, single service commands and some military units employ brand managers and marketing specialists, or have individuals who carry out marketing tasks in addition to their main role. Information on this is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental mobile telephones were lost in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were for each year.

Derek Twigg: Information on the number of lost mobile phones is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for brand management and marketing in his Department and its agencies.

Derek Twigg: Currently seven full-time equivalent members of staff are employed in marketing and brand management in the Ministry of Defence Directorate of Public Relations. Defence Agencies, Top Level Budgets areas, Trading Funds, Joint Headquarters, single Service Commands and some military units employ brand managers and marketing specialists, or have individuals who carry out marketing tasks in addition to their main role. Accurate information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Visits

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his official engagements were between 8 and 31 October 2007.

Des Browne: Between the 8 October and 29 October, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On 11 October I met with Bob Gates, US Defence Secretary during his visit to London. On 12 October I attended the armed forces memorial dedication ceremony in Staffordshire. On 16 October I participated in Scotland Office questions and answered the Defence Policy debate in the House of Commons. On 17 October I met the Albanian Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Sali Berisha, before hosting the launch of The Earl Haig Fund's Poppy Scotland campaign. On the 18 October I debated the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent in Crawley. On 19 October I visited new service accommodation at Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth and visited 12 Mechanised Brigade at Bulford. On 20 October I visited HMS Victory in Portsmouth to attend a dinner to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. On 22 October I participated in defence questions in the House of Commons. On 23 October I gave oral evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee and made an oral statement to the House on the Gould Report before meeting President Karzai of Afghanistan. On 24 and 25 October I was in the Netherlands attending a NATO Defence Ministers meeting. From 29 October to 2 November I was overseas visiting service personnel serving in Iraq.

Iraq: Detainees

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the circumstances in which international human rights law may not apply to Iraqis detained by UK personnel in Iraq.

Des Browne: The fundamental principles of human rights are enshrined in a range of international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions, which are themselves reflected in UK law. The rule of law is paramount in everything the UK armed forces do and UK forces are subject to English criminal law at all times, wherever in the world they are serving.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of the detachment of modified Nimrod aircraft tasked to carry out duties over Iraq and Afghanistan in each of the last four financial years and what the equivalent cost was in 2007-08 to date; and what the overseas deployment component of that cost was in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exclusive agreements have been made with individual media organisations to report on operations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan; and what effect those agreements have on times of placing of information in the public domain.

Des Browne: We have made no exclusive agreements with media organisations to report on operations in either theatre.
	Since April 2007, we have facilitated 52 media assignments to Iraq and 78 assignments to Afghanistan, involving a wide range of media organisations.

Ministers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his ministerial salary is paid to him entirely in respect of his duties as Secretary of State for Defence.

Des Browne: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 Ministerial salaries are paid in accordance with the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. Details of ministerial salaries are available at:
	http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m06.pdf
	and in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Weapons: Treaties

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to support the establishment of a nuclear weapons convention; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The UK considers the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to be the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the framework for nuclear disarmament.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are working in peacekeeping operations in Sudan, with  (a) the UN,  (b) NATO and  (c) the EU.

Bob Ainsworth: There are two main mission areas for peacekeeping operations in Sudan: the south, which is covered by the United Nations mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and the Darfur region. This area is currently covered by an African Union mission (AMIS) which is in the process of transforming into an African Union/United Nations hybrid mission (UNAMID).
	The UK has two officers in the UNMIS mission, one officer in the UNAMID mission, with a Brigadier shortly deploying as Chief of Staff. Two British staff officers are providing support to the AMIS mission on behalf of the European Union.

Trident: RAF Corsham

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what activities take place at the Corsham Computer Centre in support of the Trident nuclear weapons system; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Corsham Computer Centre is a data processing facility in support of Royal Navy operations. I am withholding specific details of its function as they would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Boris Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what contribution  (a) London council tax revenue and  (b) Lottery funding will make to Olympics cost overruns.

Tessa Jowell: Following a thorough review of costs, I announced a revised 9.325 billion funding package for the Games on 15 March 2007. The Government are confident that the Games will be delivered within this package, which includes a prudent contingency of 2.747 billion.
	The council tax contribution to the 9.325 billion funding package remains at 625 million, as agreed in 2003. The Mayor of London will also make 300 million available over the lifetime of the Olympic programme; and has made clear that this will not be found from either an increase in council tax or transport fares.
	The Lottery contribution to the overall 9.325 billion funding package is 2.175 billion, this includes: 750 million from the Olympic Lottery games, 340 million from the Sports Lottery distributors and 410 million from the National Lottery from 2009, all of which was included in the original Lottery funding package. A further 675 million is now being sought from the National Lottery from 2009. This sum, together with the 410 million, is subject to parliamentary approval.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Boris Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the Mayor of London's pledge to provide 10 million a year as a funder of last resort for Olympics legacy management is  (a) a legally binding commitment and  (b) sufficient to underwrite the legacy.

Tessa Jowell: The Mayor of London's commitment to provide 10 million per annum of underwriting towards Olympic venues in legacy formed part of London's bid to host the Games. All venues are being designed with a viable legacy use in mind.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Boris Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what consideration is being given to using revenues from business rates to fund the Olympic legacy.

Tessa Jowell: The Government announced a funding package for the Games on 15 March 2007. This does not include plans to use a business rate.

Olympic Games 2012: Mayor of London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the Revised Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London replaces the original memorandum.

Tessa Jowell: The revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the Mayor, that was published in June 2007, replaces the original 2003 MOU. This is stated in paragraph five of the June 2007 MOU.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she has taken to promote training and development opportunities in boroughs where the London Olympics is likely to create jobs; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: An increase in skills and employment in the five Olympic boroughs is a vital part of the Game's legacy.
	The Local Employment and Training Framework (LETF), for the five host boroughs, has committed 1.8 million this year to training, including construction, providing over 1,500 training places. The LETF also includes a local labour and business scheme, and through a second phase, education projects and skills development in wider sectors. The 2012 Local Employment and Skills Taskforce Action Plan, is helping train Londoners across many sectors including construction and hospitality.
	The Personal Best Programme (the renamed Pre Volunteer Programme) will encourage workless and socially excluded people to gain new skills and increase job prospects through volunteering, benefiting 20,000 Londoners. Over 370 people have already gone through the pilot programme and 15 per cent. have already secured employment opportunities. Hackney is one of the pilot boroughs.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) recently announced an additional 5 million funding for London this year, expanding training in key areas for 2012: sport, customer service, media and construction. This will focus on work-based learning and apprenticeships, and ensuring thousands of Londoners have practical skills for work.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the condition set out in UN Resolution 1769 that the UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping force will be predominantly African will be met.

Jim Murphy: The UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is generating the African Union (AU)/UN hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) force, in consultation with the AU, and has received pledges from a number of African countries. The DPKO is now conducting pre-deployment assessments. Until these assessments are completed, the DPKO cannot confirm UNAMID's composition. We continue to press the DPKO, the AU and the Government of Sudan for the prompt deployment of an effective UNAMID force.

Burma: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in promoting democracy in Burma.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Following the Burmese regime's brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in September, the international community has made clear that there can be no return to the previous situation. The UN, EU and Association of South East Asian Nations have been pushing for fundamental political and economic transformation, leading to national reconciliation, respect for human rights and the establishment of accountable civilian government in Burma.
	The UN has led international efforts to bring about substantive political change. The UN Secretary-General's envoy to Burma, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, visited the country in October and November, and reported to the Security Council after each visit. The Government of Burma has so far taken only limited steps to address the international community's key concerns. They have releases only a limited number of political prisoners and have not lifted the restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to allow her to participate fully in the process of national reconciliation. However, we welcome her constructive and forward-looking statement calling on the regime to enter into a 'meaningful and time bound dialogue'.
	We will continue to work with our partners in the UN, the EU and across the region to press the Government of Burma to establish a genuine dialogue between the regime, opposition parties and ethnic groups as a first step towards the re-establishment of democracy, stability and freedom in Burma.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at a meeting with the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid on 20 September, and at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the permanent members of the UN Security Council on 28 September, as well as with President Kagame of Rwanda on 3 October. The DRC was also considered at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in July and October.
	During the UN General Assembly's Ministers' Week, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Kabila and representatives of the P3+2 group on 26 September. He discussed the DRC at meetings with President Kagame on 3 October and the Belgian Foreign Minister on 14 November as well as with the Rt. Rev. Lord Bishop of Winchester on 9 October and the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region of Africa on 6 November.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials attended meetings of the International Contact Group on the Great Lakes in Brussels on 21 September and in Washington on 16 November.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in his Department were paid over 100,000 in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes a breakdown of the salaries of senior staff in its annual departmental report. In 2007, 0.69 per cent. of the Department's UK-based staff earned salaries of more than 100,000. The numbers of staff who have earned salaries of more than 100,000 each year since 1997 are:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 6 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 8 
			 2000 10 
			 2001 11 
			 2002 16 
			 2003 14 
			 2004 18 
			 2005 28 
			 2006 35 
			 2007 42

Entry Clearances: Applications

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of applications for visas for relatives and dependants made by applicants were  (a) not granted and  (b) granted within (i) 13 weeks, (ii) six months, (iii) a year, (iv) 18 months, (v) two years, (vi) two and a half years, (vii) three years and (viii) longer in each year since 2001.

Kim Howells: holding answer 15 November 2007
	It is not possible to provide the extremely detailed breakdown that the hon. Member requests. I am however able to provide a breakdown of the total numbers of applications received and refused, with percentages and by category for the years 2001 to 2007. As this information is lengthy I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances: Applications

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of applications for visit visas made by applicants were  (a) not granted and  (b) granted within (i) 13 weeks, (ii) six months, (iii) a year, (iv) 18 months, (v) two years, (vi) two and a half years, (vii) three years and (viii) longer in each year since 2001.

Kim Howells: holding answer 15 November 2007
	It is not possible to provide the extremely detailed breakdown that the hon. Member requests. I am however able to provide a breakdown of the total numbers of applications received and refused, with percentages, and by category for the years 2001 to 2007. As this information is lengthy I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of applications for visas for spouses made by applicants were  (a) not granted and  (b) granted within (i) 13 weeks, (ii) six months, (iii) a year, (iv) 18 months, (v) two years, (vi) two and a half years, (vii) three years and (viii) longer in each year since 2001.

Kim Howells: It is not possible to provide the extremely detailed breakdown that the hon. Member requests. I am however able to provide a breakdown of the total numbers of applications received and refused, with percentages, for the years 2001 to 2007.
	
		
			   Total received  Total refused  Percentage refused  Total issued  Percentage issued 
			 2001 94 1 1.1 11 11.7 
			 2002 23,641 1,551 6.6 16,767 70.9 
			 2003 41,560 3,286 7.9 29,775 71.6 
			 2004 47,637 5,410 11.4 37,710 79.2 
			 2005 49,851 5,948 11.9 34,075 68.4 
			 2006 52,842 7,804 14.8 44,145 83.5 
			 2007 (January October) 42,620 9,952 23.4 30,053 70.5 
		
	
	
		
			   Issued within 
			   13 weeks  13 week percentage  6 months  6 month percentage  12 months  12 month percentage  18 months  18 month percentage 
			 2001 11 11.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2002 15,286 64.7 928 3.9 73 0.3 1 0.0 
			 2003 23,778 57.2 4,622 11.1 370 0.9 0 0.0 
			 2004 27,820 58.4 4,853 10.2 2,024 4.2 764 1.6 
			 2005 30,486 61.2 1,779 3.6 471 0.9 0 0.0 
			 2006 36,777 69.6 2,043 3.9 2,032 3.8 1,056 2.0 
			 2007 (January-October) 28,720 67.4 745 1.7 196 0.5 0 0.0 
		
	
	
		
			   24 months  24 month percentage  30 months  30 months percentage  36 months  36 months percentage  Greater than 36 months   36 month percentage 
			 2001 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2002 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2003 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2004 157 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2005 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2006 147 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 2007 (January- October) 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			  Source:  Central Reference System 14 November 2007 UKvisas makes every effort to ensure that statistics produced from our 'Central Reference System' (CRS) are accurate. However, the complexity of our global business, including technical failures or occasional inconsistencies in data entry across any of over 150 offices, means we cannot 100 per cent. guarantee accuracy. Please note that these figures have not been published and should only be used internally, for information purposes. There are issues with data reliability prior to 2004. System modifications on both Proviso and CRS have affected the reliability of the data available to users worldwide between 2001and 2003.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation along the Eritrea-Ethiopia border.

Jim Murphy: Tension on the border is rising with more forces being deployed by both sides. We are monitoring the situation closely and urging maximum restraint by both sides and a de-escalation of their military build-up.
	Eritrea continues to impose restrictions on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1767, adopted unanimously on 31 July 2007. The Government continue to call on Eritrea to withdraw its troops from the temporary security zone.
	We are also urging both sides to agree a way forward which will allow demarcation of the border to proceed to the normalisation of their relations.

Ethiopia: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the size of the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Jim Murphy: The Government fully support the continuing operations of the UN peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). The UK welcomed the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1767 on 31 July 2007. Resolution 1767 set the size of UNMEE at 1,700 military personnel and set out a provision for altering the size of UNMEE if progress is made towards demarcation.
	In line with Resolution 1767, the UK calls on Eritrea to withdraw immediately its troops from the temporary security zone and to reverse, without delay or pre- conditions, all restrictions on UNMEE.
	The Government reiterate the importance for both Ethiopia and Eritrea to provide UNMEE with the necessary access, assistance, support and protection required for the implementation of its mandate as stated in Resolution 1767.

Iraq: Oil

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the UK  (a) has had and  (b) has in determining the details of production sharing agreements under Iraqi oil law.

Kim Howells: We have made no recommendations to the Government of Iraq on the types of contract to include in their draft hydrocarbons legislation, currently being discussed in the Iraqi Council of Representatives. We continue to urge Iraqi ministers and officials to consider the benefits of a broad range of contract types.

Palestinians: Human Rights

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation of the Palestinians in  (a) Gaza,  (b) the West Bank and  (c) refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

Kim Howells: holding answer 22 November 2007
	We are extremely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. As of 19 November, only two crossings into Gaza were operating: Kerem Shalom: for humanitarian aid and commercial supplies; and Erez: for personnel movement (workers and traders) to and from Israel and the West Bank.
	We are doing all we can to help improve the situation. On 14 November, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced to the House a commitment of up to US$500 million to Palestinian development, conditional on progress towards peace; creating the necessary conditions for economic development; and easing security restrictions on movement and access. During this financial year (2007-08), the UK has provided 31 million bilaterally to the Palestinians: 15 million through United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); 1 million to the Red Cross' work in the West Bank and Gaza; and 15 million through the Temporary International Mechanism. The UK has also pledged 100 million over five years to UNRWA to help Palestinian refugees.
	The ability of Palestinians to move within the West Bank has deteriorated. In October 2007, the UN Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Affairs reported a total of 561 closures in the West Bank. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the humanitarian situation in Gaza and movement and access in the West Bank during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 17 and 18 November. I also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on the Middle East issued by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 127-8WS).
	Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon continue to live in unacceptably poor conditions. There is a particularly pressing problem in the North of Lebanon where fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah Al Islam has destroyed the Nahr El Bared refugee camp. Our ambassador in Beirut has raised this issue with the Government of Lebanon at the highest level. We have pressed them on the need to improve living conditions including by granting them access to government services and the right to work and own property. We are currently looking at measures that the UK can take to support this work. In particular we are exploring ways to support the reconstruction of Nahr Bared, in the first instance through support to a World Bank Assessment mission.
	Conditions for Palestinian refugees in Syria are considerably better than for those in Lebanon. However, most refugees continue to have a low standard of living. Many of the water and sewerage systems in refugee camps are in need of upgrading, while some camps still lack networks altogether. Poor sanitation in the camps poses health risks for the refugees. In most of the refugee camps shelters remain very basic and many require structural rehabilitation. Palestinian refugees in Syria have access to government services and whil the Syrian government has taken on the responsibility for providing basic utilities in the camps, UNRWA continues to provide basic environmental health services.
	Under long-standing arrangements with the Government of Jordan, UNRWA provides services to Jordan's registered Palestinian refugees. 1.8 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan are eligible for UNRWA services. Facilities provided for refugees are concentrated in the 10 official UNRWA camps (there are three other camps which do not come under UNRWA). These services include clinics, schools, vocational training and microfinancing projects; these complement services provided by the Jordanian government. The most disadvantaged refugees are eligible for UNRWA's special hardship programme. We continue to engage with UNRWA on prioritising its work with Palestinian refugees.

Philippines: Terrorism

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that all necessary counter-terrorism support and assistance is given to the Government of the Philippines in tackling terrorism.

Kim Howells: We will continue to work closely with the Government of the Philippines as we do with a number of other countries which face a threat from international terrorism. I discussed with my counterparts in the Government of the Philippines co-operation in countering terrorism during my visit to Manila in April.

Somalia: Arms Control

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the UN arms embargo on Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Government fully support the UN arms embargo. The UK-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1766, adopted unanimously on 23 July 2007, extended the mandate of the Arms Embargo Monitoring Group for a further six months. The Monitoring Group reports to the Security Council on violations of the arms embargo.
	Somalia unfortunately has a proliferation of illegal arms, many imported in violation of the embargo. The lack of a functioning government means that arms markets are unregulated. The situation is further exacerbated by the presence of clan militias and insurgents operating in the country. The Government institutions in Somalia do not currently have the capacity to hinder the illegal arms trade. The UK is working with the UN, and wider international community, to encourage the development of Government institutions in Somalia that will enable the authorities to develop its capacity in this area.

Somalia: International Assistance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Government policy to support the initiative announced by the President of France on 25 September to send warships to protect humanitarian supplies arriving by sea to Somalia.

Jim Murphy: The Government supports France in their use of warships to protect humanitarian supply ships sailing to Somalia from incidents of piracy.
	The UN Security Council unanimously passed resolution 1772 on 20 August 2007, calling for military protection of merchant shipping from such acts, in line with relevant international law.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the full deployment of the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia taking place; and what steps the Government are taking with its international partners to strengthen its capabilities.

Jim Murphy: The African Union (AU) mission in Somalia has a mandate for 8,000 troops. Currently, the mission has approximately 1,600 Ugandan troops. Burundi, Ghana and Nigeria have pledged to contribute troops but have not yet deployed. If all troops that have currently been pledged are deployed to Somalia, the mission will not reach full strength.
	The Government have contributed funds to the AU planning cell for staff and equipment, funded equipment for the Ugandan deployment and paid for a Burundian reconnaissance visit. We successfully secured a 15million contribution from the EU for the mission and are encouraging the EU and other member states to make further contributions.

Somalia: United Nations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Government policy to support further UN engagement in Somalia.

Jim Murphy: We believe that the current African Union mission should be succeeded by an effective UN mission in Somalia, provided that the conditions on the ground are right.
	UN Security Council Resolution 1772 requests that planning for a UN mission take place and that the international community work to identify actions to create the conditions that would enable deployment to take place.

Tony Blair

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution each member of the Quartet on the Middle East has made to the office costs of hon. Tony Blair in his capacity as the Quartet's envoy in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: holding answer 22 November 2007
	The UK has provided 400,000 to a UN development programme trust fund which provides support to Mr. Blair's office in Jerusalem. The UK has also seconded four staff to his team. Other international donors are also supporting his work. Mr. Blair has been appointed by, and reports to, the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia). We do not have figures available for each member of the Quartet's contribution to the work of the right hon. Tony Blair as Quartet representative.

Travel Restrictions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that UK courts have powers to vary or remove restrictions on a person within the UK imposed as a result of that person being placed on a UN Security Council blacklist.

Jim Murphy: Sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council acting under chapter VII of the UN charter are binding on all UN member states. It is not open to member states, unilaterally, to vary or remove restrictions imposed on individuals by such mandatory Security Council measures.

Uganda: Detainees

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Uganda on  (a) Dr. Kizza Besigye's treason trial,  (b) the detention without trial of 14 alleged rebel People's Redemption Army members and  (c) the death in detention of opposition members Denis Nabilema, Moses Dramani and David Oboma; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We continue to monitor closely the People's Redemption Army (PRA) trial, in which Dr. Besigye is a defendant, and are pushing for a swift and fair conclusion of the legal process. We regularly raise this issue with senior members of the Ugandan government through the local Heads of Missions Partners for Democracy and Good Governance Group in Kampala. In the course of our regular dialogue with the Government of Uganda, we continue to press them, including at senior political level, on the need to engage with the opposition and develop further multi-party democracy. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised the PRA case with Ugandan Foreign Minister Kutesa during his visit to London in September.
	Our High Commission in Kampala has sought to verify the deaths of David Oboma, Denis Nabilema and Moses Dramani. The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative in Kampala has stated that Oboma died of natural causes. Senior officials from the Forum for Democratic Change have not been able to verify the deaths of Nabilema and Dramani.

Wael al-Haj Ibrahim

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking with their international partners to secure the re-entry of Wael al-Haj Ibrahim, Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur, into that country.

Jim Murphy: The UK fully supports the UN position over the expulsion of the Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur from Nyala to Khartoum.
	On 11 November, the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Sudan briefed embassies in Khartoum on her discussions about this issue with the Sudanese Government. She urged the Government to use established channels, including the High Level Committee that monitors the implementation of the Joint Humanitarian Communiqu of 28 March, to resolve the issue.
	We, and our international partners, continue to press the Sudanese Government to abide by their commitments under the Humanitarian Communiqu, and stand ready to give the UN Co-ordinator further support on this and other issues.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the EU is taking to support the democratic process in Zimbabwe during elections in 2008, as discussed at the EU Council meeting on 15 October 2007.

Jim Murphy: The EU is working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and other African and international partners, to encourage the changes necessary to ensure the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe are held in line with international standards, including those adopted by the SADC. These include the removal of all military personnel from the election management process; all parties able to hold rallies, campaign freely and have free access to the media; voting rights for the substantial Zimbabwean diaspora; and a fairer and more transparent voter registration process. We also believe that international election observers should be given access to Zimbabwe at the earliest opportunity, since preparations are already underway.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Jim Murphy: Zimbabwe's decline is tragic and President Mugabe and his misguided policies are a large part of the problem. We are pressing for South African President Mbeki's and the Southern African Development Community's efforts to resolve Zimbabwe's problems with real improvements on the ground, an end to political violence and elections that meet international standards. We are working with them and the international community to achieve those ends. Ordinary Zimbabweans deserve no less.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 41-2W, on aircraft: air conditioning, what tests have been carried out for tri-cresyl phosphate in cabin air.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November 2007, Official Report, columns 41-2W. Specifically, I draw attention to the penultimate and final paragraph of my reply.

Bournemouth Airport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve the road link to Bournemouth airport from the A338.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 November  2007
	The Department for Transport currently has no such plans and the South West Region has not identified such a link as a regional priority within its regional funding allocation advice to Government.

Cars: Eastern Region

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of households in the Eastern Region which will have two or more cars registered in each of the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of households that are estimated to own two or more cars in the East of England region over the next 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007 910,150 
			 2008 928,542 
			 2009 946,933 
			 2010 965,325 
			 2011 983,717 
			 2012 998,605 
			 2013 1,013,493 
			 2014 1,028,380 
			 2015 1,043,268 
			 2016 1,058,156 
			 2017 1,071,846

Cars: Eastern Region

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of cars which are likely to be licensed in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) the Eastern Region over the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's National Car Ownership Model forecasts the number of cars owned by households within areas of Great Britain. These forecasts therefore exclude vehicles that are not owned by private households, such as freight.
	Household car ownership forecasts for Peterborough and the East of England Region over the next 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			   Peterborough  East of England 
			 2007 83,552 3,113,584 
			 2008 85,506 3,167,863 
			 2009 87,459 3,222,142 
			 2010 89,413 3,276,421 
			 2011 91,367 3,330,700 
			 2012 93,360 3,379,737 
			 2013 95,352 3,428,775 
			 2014 97,345 3,477,812 
			 2015 99,337 3,526,850 
			 2016 101,330 3,575,887 
			 2017 103,082 3,621,015

Congestion Charges

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which congestion charging schemes' operating costs were greater than 40 per cent. of their revenue in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the capital cost of introducing each congestion charging scheme in England has been.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 November 2007
	There are currently three road user charging schemes in England. The Dartford Crossing and Durham charging schemes were implemented under the road user charging provisions of the Transport Act 2000, and the London congestion charge was implemented under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
	Accounts for the charging regime at Dartford are published on the Highways Agency's website. Operating costs are below 40 per cent. of revenue. The charging scheme took over the infrastructure of the toll that preceded it.
	The Department does not routinely collect information on costs and revenues of the other two schemes, in London and Durham. However we understand that revenues for the Durham scheme in the last financial year were 65,820 and operating costs 26,517.
	The capital cost of introducing the Durham scheme was in the region of 175,000.
	For London the published figures for 2006-07 show total revenues of 252.4 million and total costs (including depreciation and start-up costs for the western extension) of 163.3 million. The original capital cost of setting up the congestion charge in 2003 was 161.7 million.

Daedalus Airfield

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will appoint a regulator for Daedalus Airfield.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Solicitors acting for the Lee Flying Association recently wrote to a number of parties, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, threatening to bring judicial review proceedings in respect of the decision, which I am informed the Hampshire police authority took, to close the former HMS Daedalus to general aviation due to safety concerns. The Hampshire police have now suspended its decision for 28 days.
	The Government are currently considering the situation and in the circumstances, it would be inappropriate and premature for me to say any more at this stage.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not purchase food or drink centrally. At our main London Headquarters building food and drink for official events is usually obtained from the facilities management provider. Wine is rarely ordered.
	All procurement within the Department is undertaken in line with the EU's procurement rules and to obtain value for money.

Departmental Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to publish her Department's autumn performance report.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We expect to publish the DfT autumn performance report in week commencing 10 December 2007.

M1: Nottinghamshire

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her most recent estimate is of the date work will start on widening the M1 motorway in Nottinghamshire; if she will ensure that concurrently with the road widening motorway lighting is installed; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Work to widen the M1 between J25 and J28 began with site clearance on 29 October 2007, with the main start of works in January 2008.
	Further planning for the remaining sections of the M1 between J21 and J30 is being undertaken and a programme is being developed. Subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory processes, I hope to be able to make an announcement about this next year.
	The M1 from J25, to part way between J27 and J28 is already lit and replacement will be included as part of the widening.
	Designs of the lighting have not yet been finalised for the remaining sections of the M1. The intention at this time it to follow current guidelines; which includes economic assessment, to assess the lighting need on a location by location basis.

M6: Road Traffic Control

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of proposals to widen the M6; how this scheme will be affected by proposals to introduce hard shoulder driving on parts of the M6; what discussions she has had with  (a) safety groups,  (b) insurance groups and  (c) other interested parties on proposals to extend hard shoulder driving beyond the M42 pilot scheme; and what motorways will be considered by her study into extending advanced signalling and traffic management systems.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency (HA) is currently investigating options for adding capacity to the M6 between junctions 11a and 19, including both widening and Active Traffic Management (ATM). This work is anticipated to lead to a public consultation in due course.
	HA will also consult a wide range of stakeholders on the 150 million scheme to extend ATM to sections of the M6 around Birmingham as the detailed specification is developed, building on the relationships already established with stakeholders in relation to the M42 ATM trial. Further decisions on the possible wider application of advanced signalling and traffic management systems will be informed by the feasibility study announced on 25 October 2007. The Terms of Reference were published to Parliament through a written ministerial statement on the same day. In conducting the study we will convene a stakeholder advisory group to ensure a wide range of key interest groups are consulted.

Motor Vehicles: Licensing

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 461W, on motor vehicles: licensing, how many registered vehicle owners identified as failing to comply with a statutory off-road notice subsequently complied with the enforcement action.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table shows the number of cases where the penalty for failure to declare a vehicle off the road was paid following enforcement action:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 332,980 
			 2004-05 336,375 
			 2005-06 458,615 
			 2006-07 473,079

Motor Vehicles: Licensing

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 461W, on motor vehicles: licensing, how many registered vehicle owners who failed to comply with a statutory off-road declaration and who failed to comply with subsequent enforcement action were consequently summonsed to appear in court.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since the inception of Continuous Registration enforcement in March 2004 cases have no longer been settled via a magistrates court summons but via a county court claim. The volumes for both are:
	
		
			   Magistrates court cases  County court claims 
			 2003-04 1,660  
			 2004-05 111 107,100 
			 2005-06  133,254 
			 2006-07  107,550 
		
	
	Prosecution procedures for statutory off-road notifications changed in 2004 from a criminal to a civil process.

Roads: Accidents

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents there were in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall and  (c) England in each year since 1979; and how many (i) injuries and (ii) deaths resulted from them in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A table showing the number of reported personal injury road accidents in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall and  (c) England in each year since 1979; and the resulting (i) injured casualties and (ii) fatalities has been deposited in the Libraries of the House. The information broken down by parliamentary constituency is not available for accidents prior to 1994.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department and its agencies on  (a) motorway and trunk road building,  (b) motorway and trunk road improvement and widening and  (c) motorway and trunk road maintenance in each of the last five years.

Tom Harris: The spend in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Motorway and trunk 238 108 94 79 109 
			 Road building(1)  
			 Motorway and trunk road improvement and widening(2) 238 140 265 426 726 
			 Motorway and trunk road maintenance(3) 760 726 732 852 850 
			 (1 )Spend on bypass schemes included in the Highways Agency's programme of major schemes (schemes costing over 5 million) (2 )Spend on junction improvement and widening schemes included in the Highways Agency's programme of major schemes (schemes costing over 5 million) (3 )Total maintenance spend by the Highways Agency

TREASURY

Climate Change Levy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of the Climate Change Levy in reducing carbon dioxide emissions since its introduction.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 19 November 2007
	A full assessment of the levy was published at Budget 2006. The climate change levy is estimated to have reduced emissions by a cumulative 16.5 million tonnes of carbon up to 2005 and by 2010, it is estimated to deliver savings of over 3.5 million tonnes of carbon per year.

Departmental Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of inquiries received by his Department from the public were responded to within  (a) one week,  (b) 14 days,  (c) 28 days,  (d) two months and  (e) three months; and in what percentage of cases it took (i) over three months and (ii) over one year to respond.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury aims to reply to all correspondence within 15 working days of receipt. Performance against this target is reported in the Department's annual report and accounts.

Excise Duties: Fuels

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total tax paid in the UK is on a litre of petrol selling for 1.0299;
	(2)  how much was raised in taxes on motoring in each year since 1997-98;
	(3)  what his most recent forecast is for receipts from petrol and diesel taxation in 2007-08; and what change there has been since budget forecasts.

Angela Eagle: The current fuel duty payable on a litre of petrol is 50.35p and is the total amount of tax paid by businesses that can reclaim VAT. For households and businesses that cannot reclaim VAT, it is charged as 17.5 per cent. on the sum of the pre-tax price of petrol and fuel duty.
	Forecasts of receipts from fuel duties are published in The Public Finances chapter of the Budget and pre-Budget report (PBR). These are available on-line:
	 Budget 2007:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C/8/bud07_chapterc_288.pdf
	 PBR 2007:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/9/pbr_csr07_ annexb_305.pdf
	Table B8 from the latter shows changes since the Budget.
	Taxes on motoring are vehicle excise duty and hydrocarbon oils duty. The revenue raised from these taxes can be found in the following sources:
	Vehicle excise duty (and hydrocarbon oils duty)the Office for National Statistics publishes revenues since 1993 (including hydrocarbon oils) at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=5688
	Hydrocarbon oilstable 3 of the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin published by HM Revenue and Customs contains revenues since 1997-98, available at:
	www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulloil.
	HM Revenue and Customs do not collect data on other taxes (such as VAT) levied on individual goods and services (such as petrol and diesel).
	Company car tax (including fuel benefit charge) is the income tax and national Insurance liability for employee and director benefits-in-kind received as cars and fuel for private use and is published from 1999-2000 by HMRC. This can be found in table 4.5 at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/taxable_benefits/menu.htm.

Government Securities: Islam

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to introduce a sharia-compliant government bond.

Kitty Ussher: The Treasury and Debt Management Office published a consultation document Government Sterling Sukuk Issuance on 14 November, with a deadline for responses of 21 February 2008. This document is available in the House Library and on the Treasury's website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/6/C/consult_sukuk141107.pdf Following the consultation, the Government will consider the responses and announce a decision on the possible issuance of wholesale sterling denominated sukuk and next steps including the timetable for any primary legislation.

House Insurance: Terrorism

Julian Brazier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements exist to compensate households for damage to property resulting from a terrorist attack; and whether his Department has reviewed the inclusion of home insurance in the Pool Re Scheme.

Kitty Ussher: Insurance cover for domestic property damage arising from fire, explosion or impact caused by an act of terrorism is widely available. Local authorities would normally take the lead in arranging decontamination of domestic properties following a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident caused by terrorist activity.
	The Government have no plans to review the inclusion of domestic property insurance in the Pool Re scheme.

Office of Government Commerce

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings made by the Office of Government Commerce as a result of implementing  (a) e-commerce,  (b) e-catalogues,  (c) corporate cards and  (d) e-auctions in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The following information has been provided by OGC and OGCbuying.solutions and covers each year since 2003-04.
	 (a) eCommerce (eSourcing savings)
	The detail from those customers that have responded with savings based on an approved methodology, identifies savings for the current financial year of 1.065 million.
	 (b) eCatalogues (eProcurement)
	Savings for the current financial year have been estimated to be 110,000.
	Savings methods are still being finalised for this service which started trading in summer 2006. The service is going through a significant period of growth and we expect substantial savings to arise from 2008-09 onwards.
	 (c) Corporate cards (Government Procurement Cards)
	The estimated process savings derived from GPC for the years indicated are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 52,384,584 
			 2004-05 69,356,868 
			 2005-06 86,548,140 
			 2006-07 115,673,264 
		
	
	 (d) eAuctions framework
	
		
			   Total number of auctions  Total pre -auc tion value ()  Total saving () 
			 2003 4 3,371,836 1,007,170 
			 2004 37 93,759,842 19,460,093 
			 2005 62 333,854,589 83,506,922 
			 2006 68 2,011,059,499 281,743,506 
			 2007 60 933,219,709 147,149,598 
			 Total 231 3,375,265,475 532,867,288 
		
	
	In addition, OGC has operated seven collaborative reverse e-auctions since 2005 to procure IT hardware on behalf of a range of public sector organisations. Those auctions have generated estimated savings of 22.45 million.

Office of Government Commerce

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the Office of Government Commerce's contracts became shared contracts, including by sharing current contracts across central government, in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: OGC has two contracts which are open to central government departments. These are the Financial Analysis Services Framework and Strategic Assignments Consultancy Service Framework.
	In addition, OGC is working with Government departments to ensure that their contracts are open for use across Government. Wherever possible, OGC uses framework agreements and shared contracts for domestic procurements. All departments are encouraged to use existing contracts where they represent good value for money.

Office of Government Commerce

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many events were held by the Office of Government Commerce in each year since 2003-04; how much was spent on those events was; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: OGC holds a number of events on an annual basis. Examples of which include conferences, seminars, and workshops.
	
		
			   Number of events  Cost 
			 2003-04 39 253,920 
			 2004-05 43 392,828 
			 2005-06 43 185,001 
			 2006-07 22 66,556

Office of Government Commerce

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procurement savings have been achieved by the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions since 2003-04; in respect of which support services they were achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: OGCbuying.solutions provides customers in the public sector with a tried and tested route to the procurement of high quality, value-for-
	money goods and services.
	
		
			  Performance against savings target as follows: 
			   million 
			   Target  Actual 
			 2003-04 120 152 
			 2004-05 300 321 
			 2005-06 400 412 
			 2006-07 500 516

Pay: Public Sector

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of average public sector pay increases were in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on increases in public sector paythe Average Earnings Index (AEI)which is available at www.statistics.gov.uk This data refers to the average earnings of a work force or sector (in the form of an index), and the growth of this each year, which includes the effect of things like progression rates, work force and pay system restructuring, changes in work force composition, and the basic pay awards (the uplift of pay scales), among others.

Public-Private Forum on Identity Management

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the report from the Public-Private Forum on identity to be published; and for what reasons its publication has been delayed.

Andy Burnham: Sir James Crosby was appointed to establish and chair the Public-Private Forum on Identity Management in July 2006 with a remit to produce a preliminary report to Ministers by Easter 2007. In March 2007 he discussed his preliminary conclusions with the then Chancellor of the Exchequer and was invited to work on with the Forum to produce a fuller report later in the year. The report is now being finalised. It is expected to be delivered to Ministers later this year, as agreed with Sir James. No date has been fixed for publication, which may be later this year or next year.

Tripartite Arrangements

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what scenarios have been used to test the effectiveness of the tripartite arrangements between his Department, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 15 November 2007
	 The tripartite arrangements have been tested regularly over recent years. For public policy reasons details of the scenarios are not published where they cover financial stability events.
	The authorities have also regularly tested their responses to operational disruption scenarios. Since 2004 the tripartite has arranged an annual market-wide exercise, involving both the authorities and a cross-section of financial sector firms, to test responses to operational disruption covering terrorist attacks and pandemic influenza outbreak.
	Reports on these exercises can be found on the UK Financial Sector Continuity website:
	www.fsc.gov.uk.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beaches: Financing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the funding formula for local government takes account of the costs of managing and providing facilities on beaches for local authorities in coastal areas.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Formula grant is largely calculated on the basis of the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of an authority, for example the number of visitors to an area, together with the number of band-D equivalent properties within the area. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant, and decisions on local spending priorities are for local authorities to take.

Beaches: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons each of the 20 coastal bathing sites which did not meet minimum bathing water standards in summer 2007 did not meet those standards; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: My Department holds information on nine of the 20 bathing waters in the UK which failed to meet the minimum standards during the 2007 bathing season.
	The reasons for failure at these nine sites are set out in the following table. These were mainly a combination of sewage pollution and/or diffuse water pollution from agriculture.
	In addition, eight of these nine failures were affected by exceptionally heavy or persistent rainfall, as this summer was the wettest since records began.
	
		
			  Region  Bathing Water  Main reason(s) for failure  Affected by rainfall 
			 North East Runswick Bay Agricultural and sewage pollution Yes 
			  Sandsend Agricultural pollution Yes 
			  Staithes Agricultural pollution Yes 
			 North West Aldingham Sewage pollution Yes 
			  Morecambe South Agricultural pollution Yes 
			  St. Annes Agricultural and sewage pollution Yes 
			 South West Bude Summerleaze Agricultural and sewage pollution No 
			  Instow Agricultural pollution Yes 
			  Mothecombe Agricultural and sewage pollution Yes 
		
	
	Information on bathing water failures in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is held by the relevant devolved administrations.

Beaches: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  for what reasons the requirement to test bathing water once every fortnight has been changed to once every month in the draft Bathing Water Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what he estimates the effect on his Department's expenditure will be of testing bathing water once a month instead of once a fortnight; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD) requires, as a minimum, that no fewer than four bathing water samples are taken per bathing water per season. These requirements are reflected in the draft transposing regulations for England and Wales, which were recently issued as part of a Government consultation on the implementation of the rBWD.
	As discussed in the consultation document, the Environment Agency is currently investigating the risks associated with changes to its current monitoring programme (from 20 samples per bathing water) to reflect the reduced frequency of sampling allowed by the rBWD.
	My Department and the Welsh Assembly Government are awaiting the outcome of the Environment Agency's investigations before making any decisions about future sampling frequency. Initial indications are that a reduction in sampling frequency may be limited.

Beaches: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget has been allocated for the monitoring and testing of beaches in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is the competent authority in England and Wales for monitoring and testing water quality at bathing waters designated under the European Bathing Waters Directive.
	In 1997, the Agency routinely tested water quality at 447 sites. This had increased to 494 sites by 2007. The Environment Agency takes approximately 20 water samples per site every year during the bathing season (from 15 May to 30 September).
	Since 1997, the money that has been spent on monitoring and testing beaches has increased in line with the number of bathing waters identified under this legislation.
	The number and cost of bathing waters monitoring from 1997 - 2007 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of bathing waters  Cost (000) 
			 1997 447 369 
			 1998 466 385 
			 1999 470 388 
			 2000 480 396 
			 2001 481 397 
			 2002 482 398 
			 2003 489 404 
			 2004 491 406 
			 2005 494 408 
			 2006 493 408 
			 2007 494 408

Beaches: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason he proposes to amend the Bathing Water Regulations 2007.

Phil Woolas: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Bathing Water (Classification) Regulations 1991, which transposed the current Bathing Water Directive (cBWD), 76/160/EEC.
	A revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD), 2006/7/EC, which came into force in March 2006, updates and simplifies the cBWD.
	New legislation (the Bathing Water Regulations 2008, which is currently the subject of a public consultation) is required to transpose the rBWD into UK law, and revoke the 1991 regulations at the same time.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which vessels are available to the Marine and Fisheries Agency and the Fishery Protection Squadron for enforcing fisheries rules; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are three River Class vessels and three Hunt Class vessels available to the Marine and Fisheries Agency and the Fishery Protection Squadron in 2007-08.
	The three River Class vessels available are HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey.
	The three Hunt Class vessels available are HMS Quorn, HMS Ledbury and HMS Brocklesby.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many patrol days the River Class offshore patrol vessels have provided for the Fishery Protection Squadron in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following tables record the number of days that both the River and Hunt Class patrol vessels have patrolled in the last 19 months.
	
		
			  Patrol days 2006-07 
			  Month  Days  Profile  Ships  Contract days  Total profile  Total days  Balance  OPVs  IPVs  % OPVs 
			 April 30 75 4 66 75 66 -9 57 9 86.37 
			 May 31 80 4 79 155 145 -10 118 27 81.38 
			 June 30 85 4 81 240 226 -14 172 54 76.11 
			 July 31 85 4 92 325 318 -7 235 83 73.9 
			 August 31 80 4 80 405 398 -7 299 99 75.13 
			 SEPT 30 80 4 80 485 478 -7 345 133 72.18 
			 October 31 65 4 73 550 551 +1 394 157 71.51 
			 November 30 60 4 54 610 605 -5 436 169 72.07 
			 December 31 45 3 42 655 647 -8 467 180 72.18 
			 January 31 50 3 51 705 698 -7 509 189 72.92 
			 February 28 70 4 77 775 775 0 568 207 73.29 
			 March 31 75 4 70 850 845 -5 620 225 73.37 
			 Total 365 850   850 845  620 225  
			 OPV = Offshore patrol vessel = Rivers IPV = Inshore patrol vessel = Hunts 
		
	
	
		
			  Patrol days 2007-08 
			  Month  Days  Profile  Ships  Contract days  Total profile  Total days  Balance  OPVs  IPVs  Total  d ays % OPVs 
			 April 30 70 4 66 70 66 -4 52 14 78.79 
			 May 31 75 4 79 145 145 0 50 29 70.34 
			 June 30 75 4 66 220 211 -9 44 22 69.19 
			 July 31 75 4 69 295 280 -15 59 10 73.21 
			 August 31 75 4 78 370 358 -12 64 14 75.14 
			 September 30 75 4 77 445 435 -10 58 19 75.17 
			 October 31 60 4 67 505 502 -3 54 13 75.9 
			 November 30 60 4  565  
			 December 31 45 3  610  
			 January 31 50 3  660  
			 February 29 70 4  730  
			 March 31 70 4  800  
			 Total 366 800   800  
			  Note: OPV = Offshore patrol vessel = Rivers IPV = Inshore patrol vessel = Hunts

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the highest number of River Class offshore patrol vessels allocated to the Fishery Protection Squadron at any one time  (a) has been and  (b) will be in the new contract period from 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are three River Class vessels allocated to the Fishery Protection Squadron which will be included in the new contact period. This is the highest number there has been at any one time.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his assessment is of the operational efficiency of the River Class offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The River Class vessels, built in the last five years, are much faster vessels than the older Hunts (18 years+), with a maximum speed of 22 knots compared to a maximum of 15 knots on the Hunts and they are able to stay at sea for longer periods. Rivers currently carry out 12-day patrols followed by a two-day stand-off whereas the Hunts carry out seven to eight-day patrols followed by a two-day stand-off.
	The River Class vessels are equipped and manned to be able to routinely deploy two sea-boats to carry out simultaneous inspections, whereas the Hunts are equipped to use one sea-boat. They do exceptionally use two sea-boats if weather and crewing permit.
	Rivers have a higher complement of qualified British Sea Fisheries Officers (BSFOs), carrying an average of four at all times whereas the Hunts carry an average of three qualified BSFOs.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many patrol days were undertaken by each class of Fisheries Protection Squadron vessel in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table records the number of patrol days undertaken by offshore and inshore patrol vessels since 1995.
	
		
			Offshore patrol vessels  Inshore patrol vessels 
			  Calendar year or agreement year  Patrol days  Days  Percentage  Days  Percentage 
			 1995 1,156 689 59.6 467 40.4 
			 1996 1,181 683 57.8 498 42.2 
			 1997 1,158 782 67.5 376 32.5 
			 1998 1,081 803 74.3 278 25.7 
			 2000 964 546 56.6 418 43.4 
			 2001-02 957 642 67.08 315 32.92 
			 2002-03 942 579 61.46 363 38.54 
			 2003-04 908 658 72.47 250 27.53 
			 2004-05 880 626 71.13 254 28.87 
			 2005-06 855 636 74.39 219 25.61 
			 2006-07 845 620 73.37 225 26.63

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the risk of fraud being carried out by warm front contractors participating in the Warm Front Scheme.

Phil Woolas: Eaga plc, the Warm Front Scheme Manager, assesses the qualifications and financial probity of potential installers before they are contracted to work on the scheme. Once engaged in the scheme eaga plc performs regular audits on their performance.
	DEFRA also employs independent quality assessors, who perform regular audits of Warm Front, to ensure that all elements of the scheme are being delivered to a high standard.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of people who have received a Warm Front grant who have been required to pay further costs on top of the grant.

Phil Woolas: Since June 2005, 535,882 households have received assistance through the Warm Front Scheme. Of these households 90,789 have been required to pay an excess, equating to 16.9 per cent. of those assisted.

Whales: Japan

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take in response to Japan's resumption of whaling;
	(2)  what his policy is on Japan's resumption of whaling; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on Japan's resumption of whaling.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK, together with a majority of members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), has consistently criticised Japan for its lethal whaling operations, authorised under special permits (so called 'scientific' whaling) and urged Japan to desist from these operations forthwith.
	Like most IWC members, we do not believe that lethal scientific research can be justified: there are perfectly adequate non-lethal alternatives which could secure the information required by the IWC for stock assessment and management purposes. The whale meat and other products from this so-called 'scientific' whaling are sold domestically in Japanese markets and restaurants. These whaling operations severely hamper international efforts to conserve and protect whales, and clearly demonstrate that these programmes are driven by commercial, rather than scientific considerations.
	Japan's proposal to kill 50 humpback whales, a species that remains on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) List of Threatened Species, is nothing less than outrageous. We will continue to make our opposition to whaling known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity, and argue that Japanese action undermines the credibility of the IWC as an effective organisation for the conservation of whale stocks worldwide.
	Whaling is not an issue on which the European Union (EU) exercises competence. As such, it is not generally a subject for discussion at meetings of EU Ministers.
	At official level, we do have regular contact with other like-minded countries, including those EU countries who are, like the UK, parties to the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling and thus members of the IWC.

SCOTLAND

Act of Union 1707: Anniversaries

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have for celebrating the Act of Union of 1707.

David Cairns: The Government have supported a number of commemorative events to celebrate the Act of Union of 1707, including:
	a commemorative two-pound coin;
	an historical exhibition, Making the Act of Union 1707, in the Royal Gallery, House of Lords, which then transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
	a treaty of union debating competition organised by the English-Speaking Union;
	an arts outreach project on the theme Tales of the United Kingdom organised by The Prince of Wales's Arts  Kids Foundation;
	a plaque commemorating the Act of Union 1707 in St. Stephen's Hall in the Palace of Westminster; and
	the naming of a mainline train, Treaty of Union.

Burglary: Self-Defence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Advocate-General to discuss the use of self-defence in cases of burglary.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with my noble Friend the Advocate-General, where they discuss a wide range of issues.

Departmental Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  how many reports have been made to his Department's nominated officers under paragraph 16 of the revised Civil Service Code since its publication on 6 June 2006;
	(2)  how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been reported to his Department by departmental staff since 6 June 2006;
	(3)  when his Department's whistleblowing procedures were reviewed to reflect the provisions in the revised Civil Service Code.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron), on 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 597W.

Departmental Manpower

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people aged  (a) 30 to 39,  (b) 40 to 49,  (c) 50 to 59 and  (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in his Department in 2007.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not directly appoint staff; they are seconded from other Departments. The Office has no information on the ages of individuals who have applied to these Departments.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what entertainment or hospitality members of the Department's management board have received in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.

Departmental Opinion Polls

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what opinion polls the Department has conducted of  (a) the public and  (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case.

David Cairns: None.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for brand management and marketing in his Department.

David Cairns: None.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on managing their corporate identities in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

David Cairns: Nothing.

Departmental Repairs and Maintenance

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by his Department on renovation and refurbishment of its properties in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately identify the costs of renovation and refurbishment from the routine repair and replacement of existing facilities. Over the period of the last five years, the Office has shared its accommodation with a number of other Government Departments. The figures in the following table show the gross total for repairs and maintenance of Scotland Office buildings but do not include the contribution by the Departments towards their share of the costs.
	
		
			
			 2002-03 99,310 
			 2003-04 179,853 
			 2004-05 374,129 
			 2005-06 331,803 
			 2006-07 355,071

Departmental Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish his Department's autumn performance report.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has no public service agreements; the Office's performance indicators are published in our annual report.

Scottish Language

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken by the Government to comply with the recommendations of the report of the Committee of Experts on the Charter for Minority and Regional Languages in respect of Scottish Gaelic and Scots.

David Cairns: holding answer 12 November 2007
	Implementation of the Charter for Minority and Regional Languages falls, in the main, to the devolved administrations of the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive.
	The Scotland Office, along with DCMS and relevant stakeholders, including the BBC, are working to establish a dedicated Gaelic digital service to be launched next year. This new service will help meet the cultural, linguistic and educational needs of the Gaelic community and promote the benefits to the wider community.

Scottish Parliament: Elections

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish minutes of meetings held with Scotland Office Ministers and the Ron Gould Scottish Elections review team.

David Cairns: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 The one meeting between Scotland Office Ministers and Ron Gould plus his review team was a private discussion and no agreed minute was taken. A note drawn up for internal purposes only covered the seven key issue areas which Gould made the focus of his review. Also discussed was Mr. Gould's request to have access to ballot paper images to assist in his analysis of rejected papers. I will provide to the Scottish Affairs Committee, to assist them with their discussions, the timelines for legislation and ballot paper design that were requested by Ron Gould as written evidence from the Scotland Office.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for selling alcohol to minors in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) Peterborough city council area in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Between the years of 1997-2005 only one person was proceeded against for the illegal sale of alcohol to minors in Peterborough petty sessional area. The proceeding took place in 2005 and the defendant was found guilty. The data provided cannot identify whether the defendant was a resident of Peterborough.
	Information broken down by  (a) constituency and  (b) local council area are not held by the ministry of justice.
	In addition to court proceedings, the offence of illegal sale of alcohol to minors can attract a penalty notice for disorder (PND), PND data are only available broken down by police force area.
	Information for 2006 will be available at the end of November 2007.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many confiscations by police of alcohol and alcohol containers from under-age drinkers under the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 have taken place in each of the last five years in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force area.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not routinely record or hold this information.

Arrests: Terrorism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) arrested for and  (b) convicted of terrorist offences in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Information on the number of arrests and convictions for terrorist offences for people in respect of whom legal proceedings are not active is not available as the information is not collated in this way.
	Latest UK police terrorism arrest statistics (excluding Northern Ireland) from 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2007 show 1,228 arrests were made: of which there have been 41 Terrorism Act convictions and 183 convictions under other legislation. Statistics are available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/?view=Standard

Civil Service: Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Civil Service pay band is for Louise Casey.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Louise Casey is a senior civil service pay band 2. An explanation of pay bands for senior civil servants can be found in the Review Body of Senior Salaries latest report, which is available on the civil service website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/documents/pdf/pay_reward/29th_report_2007.pdf

Convictions: Rape

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the results of her Department's study of differential rape convictions and detection rates in eight police force areas in England and Wales.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Home Office Online Report 18/7 'Investigating and Detecting Recorded Offences of Rape' was published on 20 July 2007. It is available on the Home Office website.

Crime: Young People

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of crimes committed by persons aged between 16 and 25 years in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall and  (c) England in each year since 1979.

Vernon Coaker: Estimates of the cost of crimes committed by persons aged between 16 and 25 years in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each parliamentary constituency in Cornwall and  (c) England are not routinely calculated, and could be provided in part and only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence: Wales

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women in Wales have reported incidents of domestic violence in each of the last five years; and what measures are in place to support women who report domestic violence.

Vernon Coaker: The Welsh Assembly Government have put in place a domestic abuse strategy for Wales.
	One of the key aims of the strategy is to increase the number of incidents reported to the police so that action can be taken to prevent repeat victimisation. The indications are that there has been some success with this. Police recorded incidents in Wales are up to nearly 35,000 in 2006-07, from 26,854 in 2002-03.
	The Welsh Assembly Government are working closely with the Home Office on implementing a number of initiatives to support women who report domestic violence. These include developing specialist domestic violence courts (SDVCs). There are now seven SDVCs in Wales and separate arrangements being rolled out in Gwent.
	The Home Office has also funded independent domestic violence advisor services in these areas, and the implementation of multi-agency risk assessment conferences, both of which aim to increase the safety of high risk victims of domestic violence.

Driving Under Influence: Drugs

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the development of a roadside impairment testing apparatus for use in the identification of drug use by drivers.

Vernon Coaker: Following extensive development work with manufacturers and other independent experts, the Forensic Science Service aims to issue by Christmas a specification for a drug screening device. The purpose of the device will be to test for the presence in a driver's person of any of six drug types above specified levels. These drug types are known to be capable of causing impairment. It will then be for manufacturers to prepare a device in line with the specification and submit it for type approval. Type approval is necessary before the police can use a device for drug-driving enforcement.
	The police are already conducting impairment tests using a prescribed Field Impairment Testing regime. The HO Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) has been considering possible improvements to this regime and intends to pursue these in discussion with the Department for Transport. HOSDB has also been investigating the possible development of an impairment measuring device and is keeping in close contact with others working in this area. Funding has now been agreed for work to be taken forward in partnership with a suitable university or other outside agency.

Fraud

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will include fraud offences in the 2008 British Crime Survey; and what steps she is taking to raise public awareness of the dangers of fraud.

Vernon Coaker: The British Crime Survey (BCS) is a nationally representative survey of households in England and Wales. Its primary purpose is to estimate levels of crime committed against the population of private households and adults living in such households. As such, the survey cannot estimate crimes committed against those outside the scope of the survey, such as commercial and public sector bodies.
	The BCS provides a measure of fraud (including identity fraud) committed against individuals in private households, which is important because it captures unreported incidents. However, fraud is a complex area and there are conceptual difficulties around its definition and measurement in surveys. On the one hand, some members of the public who had been victims of poor service may perceive themselves to have been de-frauded, when this is not the case in law, whereas many of those who had been genuine victims of fraud may not be aware of the fact.
	A special module of questions has been included in the BCS in recent years focusing on credit and debit card, internet and identity fraud. However, fraud offences are not currently included within the main crime count of the BCS.
	The most recent results have been reported in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 11/07 'Crime in England and Wales 2006/2007'. More detailed figures can be found in the Home Office Online Report 10/07 'Mobile phone theft, plastic card and identity fraud: Findings from the 2005/06 British Crime Survey'. New questions have recently been developed, in the card and ID fraud module currently being run within the BCS, and these will be reviewed before continuing inclusion in the 2008/09 BCS.
	Information about fraud is included on a number of Government websites including that of the Home Office, which also created and maintains a mini site devoted to fraud within the Government's Crime Reduction Website. The Get Safe Online website, a joint Government and private sector initiative, provides advice to help computer users stay safe online and includes information about fraud. The Home Office has also produced, in conjunction with the banking industry, a leaflet to help prevent plastic card fraud. The leaflet was distributed to police forces and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and is available on the Home Office website.
	The cross Whitehall review of fraud which reported last year recommended establishing a National Fraud Strategic Authority (NFSA) which will implement a national strategy on fraud. Key actions for the NFSA will be to raise the profile of fraud and to co-ordinate the response to it. A measurement will also be established within the NFSA to measure the national extent of fraud based on robust measurement methodologies.

Hijacking: Lorries

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many truck hijackings have been reported to police in each region in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available from the recorded crime statistics.

Homicide: Religion

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported honour killings there were in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: The requested information cannot be provided. Such circumstances cannot be identified from centrally-held homicide data.

Human Trafficking

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been allocated to Operation Pentameter 2; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Tackling human trafficking is core police business. Forces receive over 11 billion in grant annually and work undertaken as part of Operation Pentameter 2 is being met from existing funding streams. The Government have awarded Eaves Housing for Women a grant of 2.4 million over two years to provide tailored high-level support for victims of trafficking. We are investing an additional 100,000 to top-up this grant for Pentameter 2.

Human Trafficking

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the outcomes of Operation Pentameter 2; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Operational Pentameter 2 is still ongoing. An evaluation of intelligence obtained and conduct of the operation will be undertaken following its completion.

Motor Vehicles: Theft

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most common makes and models of vehicles stolen in each police authority area were in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Estimates of the numbers of cars stolen, by make and model, at national level in each of the calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005, were recently published on the Home Office website, along with details of how these estimates were arrived at.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policingroads.html
	We do not hold this information at police force area level.

National Security

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on each of the 12 points outlined by the former Prime Minister as security measures on 5 August 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Progress on each of the 12 points is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Progress on 12 point plan 
			  Measure  Progress 
			 1. Introduce new grounds under which the Government can deport and exclude foreign nationals (i.e. on the basis of incitement/glorification as well as direct national security threat) Since the introduction of the new grounds of Unacceptable Behaviour for deportation and exclusion, 65 individuals have been excluded from the UK and 1 deported. A further 40 exclusion and 4 deportation cases are under consideration. 
			  Separately, we are also seeking to deport people on national security grounds under longstanding immigration powers. Since 7 July 2005, 9 foreign nationals have been deported under immigration powers on grounds of national security (8 Algerians and 1 French national). A further 24 foreign nationals are subject to deportation proceedings on grounds of national security. 
			   
			 2. To create an offence of condoning or glorifying terrorism The Terrorism Act 2006 includes the new offence of encouraging terrorism, including glorifying terrorism, which is now in force. 
			   
			 3. To refuse asylum in this country automatically to anyone who has participated in terrorism Section 54 in the Immigration and Nationality Act allows us to deny asylum to terrorists while respecting our obligations under the Refugee Treaty. Section 55 in the Act allows the Secretary of State to certify that an appellant is not entitled to the protection of the Refugee Convention. 
			   
			 4. To consult on extending the powers to strip citizenship, applying them to British citizens engaged in extremism and making the procedures more effective A provision included in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 lowers the bar for removal of citizenship by replacing one of the existing criteria with a new power to deprive where such action is held by the Home Secretary to be conducive to the public good. The power came into force on 16 June 2006. One person has been deprived under this new power. A number of other cases are being actively pursued having been identified as priority cases by the Security Service and the Special Cases Oversight Board. 
			   
			 5. To consult on setting a maximum time limit for all future extradition cases involving terrorism Rashid Ramda extradited. 
			  The tri-departmental group set up to speed up the extradition of terrorist suspects has concluded that part of its work and is now considering how to prepare for the expected surge in European Arrest Warrants after the introduction of the Schengen Information System 2 computer in 2010. 
			   
			 6. To examine a new court procedure to allow a pre-trial process to allow sensitive evidence to be brought forward in court. Pre-trial processes considered. Decided not to take forward. We are awaiting the outcome of the Privy Council review on using intercept as evidence. 
			   
			 7. To extend the use of control orders for those who are British nationals and cannot be deported The last Control Order Quarterly Statement to Parliament on 17 September 2007 confirmed that there are 14 orders currently in force, 8 of which are in respect of British citizens. Control orders continue to be an important tool to address the threat posed by suspected terrorists who cannot currently be prosecuted or, in respect of foreign nationals, who cannot be removed from the UK. But they are not perfect, and never have been. 
			   
			 8. To expand the court capacity to deal with control orders Work continues to review the capacity of the courts, specialist tribunals and the judiciary to deal with existing and anticipated caseload relating to terrorism. 
			   
			 9. To proscribe Hizb-ut Tahrir and the successor organisation of Al Mujahiroun The Terrorism Act 2006 widens the criteria for proscription. Two of the successor organisations to Al Mujahiroun were proscribed in July 2006. HUT are a group of real concern and remain under review. 
			   
			 10. To review the acquisition of British citizenship to make sure that it is adequate and to establish with the Muslim community a commission to advise on better integration We have extended the requirement to be of good character to virtually all applicants for British citizenship. The relevant provision, section 58 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, was commenced on 4 December 2006. We are also looking at extending the checks carried out to establish good character. 
			  The Commission on Integration and Cohesion was launched on 24 August 2006 with a remit to identify local and practical ways in which cohesion could be built. It reported on 14 June 2007 and made 57 recommendations. On 5 October 2007, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced her initial response to the report, which included 50 million additional funding for local authorities over the next three years to build cohesion. This will be followed by a full response in the new year. 
			   
			 11. To consult on a new power to order closure of a place of worship which is used as a centre for fermenting extremism and to consult with Muslim leaders in respect of those clerics who are not British citizens to draw up a list of those not suitable to preach and who will be excluded from our country in the future The public consultation on taking powers to close place of worship resulted in a decision not to legislate at this stage. This decision was announced to Parliament on 15 December 2005. 
			  The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) formally launched on the 29 October 2007 alongside a set of draft core minimum standards and constitution for mosques and imams in the UK. 
			  MINAB have also contributed to the work of the Border and Immigration Agency on Entry requirements for ministers of religion. 
			   
			 12. To bring forward the proposed measures on the security of our borders with a series of countries specifically designated for biometric visas over the next year By March 2007, all visa applicants (100 nationalities) will be required to provide biometric data (10 fingerscans and digital photograph) wherever in the world they apply for a UK visa. The equipment and process changes to enable this are being deployed overseas between autumn 2006 and the end of 2007. We are currently collecting biometric data from all visa applicants in 115 countries and checking the data against records held on the Border and Immigration Agency's Immigration Fingerprint Service database. The intention is that in due course all fingerscans will be checked against the Border and Immigration Agency's Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint Service database held in the UK, and the police national database, prior to reaching a decision on the visa application.

Police

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population is of each police force area.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Population figures used in the most recent Home Office statistical bulletins on crime and police numbers, and relating to police force areas in England and Wales, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Mid 2005 population for each police force area 
			   Thousand 
			 Avon and Somerset 1531 
			 Bedfordshire 583 
			 Cambridgeshire 749 
			 Cheshire 993 
			 Cleveland 553 
			 Cumbria 499 
			 Derbyshire 981 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1629 
			 Dorset 702 
			 Durham 599 
			 Dyfed Powys 505 
			 Essex 1646 
			 Gloucestershire 575 
			 Greater Manchester 2548 
			 Gwent 556 
			 Hampshire 1811 
			 Hertfordshire 1048 
			 Humberside 891 
			 Kent 1621 
			 Lancashire 1439 
			 Leicestershire 953 
			 Lincolnshire 679 
			 London, City of 9 
			 Merseyside 1367 
			 Metropolitan Police 7509 
			 Norfolk 824 
			 North Wales 675 
			 North Yorkshire 769 
			 Northamptonshire 652 
			 Northumbria 1407 
			 Nottinghamshire 1041 
			 South Wales 1222 
			 South Yorkshire 1286 
			 Staffordshire 1055 
			 Suffolk 692 
			 Surrey 1076 
			 Sussex 1517 
			 Thames Valley 2139 
			 Warwickshire 534 
			 West Mercia 1185 
			 West Midlands 2591 
			 West Yorkshire 2119 
			 Wiltshire 631 
			  Source: Office of National Statistics Census-revised mid-year estimates.

Police: Firearms

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers carried firearms as a regular part of their duties in each of the last 10 years in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) in each police force area.

Tony McNulty: The number of authorised firearms officers in police forces in England and Wales for each year since 1996-97 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of authorised firearms officers (AFOs) 
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Total 6,738 6,585 6,308 6,262 6,064 5,776 5,763 6,096 6,243 6,584 
			 Avon and Somerset 165 161 153 150 135 116 84 122 118 117 
			 Bedfordshire 46 42 50 46 45 48 53 58 56 59 
			 Cambridgeshire 90 80 80 77 73 56 71 60 60 50 
			 Cheshire 70 82 70 75 74 81 89 75 76 73 
			 Cleveland 86 84 78 80 75 85 80 95 100 100 
			 City of London 88 81 55 73 74 73 72 86 89 86 
			 Cumbria 108 122 98 98 94 92 87 89 90 89 
			 Derbyshire 110 100 87 77 81 80 69 70 74 75 
			 Devon and Cornwall 151 147 82 119 100 108 115 132 123 122 
			 Dorset 74 72 72 66 67 57 59 60 64 62 
			 Durham 138 144 96 101 101 86 102 97 103 100 
			 Essex 228 217 235 228 195 180 184 186 202 205 
			 Gloucestershire 82 84 79 77 72 71 80 82 93 92 
			 Gtr Manchester 209 182 217 218 240 219 202 205 187 245 
			 Hampshire 106 112 110 111 100 87 94 94 92 97 
			 Hertfordshire 42 41 43 52 44 46 47 50 53 52 
			 Humberside 90 102 102 97 102 96 96 96 101 92 
			 Kent 150 150 130 136 136 113 93 90 94 94 
			 Lancashire 132 125 132 143 132 138 129 122 115 123 
			 Leicestershire 104 94 90 90 85 69 68 51 53 59 
			 Lincolnshire 82 85 75 78 80 91 87 78 86 87 
			 Merseyside 147 165 121 96 103 78 84 94 93 129 
			 Metropolitan 2,035 1,971 1,951 1,977 1,940 1,805 1,823 2,060 2,134 2,331 
			 Norfolk 98 102 109 110 114 104 109 114 125 119 
			 Northamptonshire 92 92 92 75 77 51 56 52 50 56 
			 Northumbria 173 126 123 114 109 125 99 90 93 98 
			 North Yorkshire 108 95 83 59 66 66 64 60 56 78 
			 Nottinghamshire 128 129 120 116 137 136 131 138 138 149 
			 South Yorkshire 110 108 90 100 98 92 100 98 122 116 
			 Staffordshire 78 86 92 81 67 71 63 67 76 70 
			 Suffolk 82 96 101 98 90 90 80 96 88 84 
			 Surrey 76 61 69 71 72 62 48 53 49 51 
			 Sussex 180 146 156 131 118 120 141 134 130 129 
			 Thames Valley 185 194 179 187 185 156 180 172 176 180 
			 Warwickshire 41 38 44 54 45 50 51 46 53 55 
			 West Mercia 155 159 139 129 130 125 131 139 141 152 
			 West Midlands 88 95 92 93 83 111 110 124 134 145 
			 West Yorkshire 131 114 128 110 117 116 132 140 130 150 
			 Wiltshire 134 105 88 89 71 71 78 80 74 72 
			 Dyfed Powys 70 71 67 65 61 77 62 58 79 68 
			 Gwent 70 59 64 68 66 57 60 71 74 86 
			 North Wales 72 90 97 92 67 83 75 73 65 57 
			 South Wales 134 176 169 155 143 138 125 139 134 130

Police: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police force scenes of crime officers there were in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Information collected by the Home Office relates to the numbers of police officers and police staff that are primarily involved in the function Scenes of Crime. Data on this basis are available from 2005 and are contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Scenes of crime function( 1,2)  (FTE) in England and Wales as at  31 March 
			   Total number of officers/staff 
			 2005 2977 
			 2006 3101 
			 2007 3067 
			 (1) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. (2) Overall force totals including those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) required and  (b) actual headcount is of uniformed police officers in each London borough division of the Metropolitan police force; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 November 2007
	The latest information available centrally relates to number of officers in post on 31 March 2007 for basic command units of the Metropolitan police (which corresponds with London boroughs, plus Heathrow). These figures appear in the following table.
	Decisions on the deployment of officers to each BCU are a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
	
		
			  Police officer strength by Metropolitan police basic command unit,  31 March 2007( 1) 
			  BCU  Number of police officers (full-time equivalent) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 427 
			 Barnet 551 
			 Bexley 371 
			 Brent 672 
			 Bromley 493 
			 Camden 812 
			 City of Westminster 1,561 
			 Croydon 684 
			 Ealing 681 
			 Enfield 582 
			 Greenwich 632 
			 Hackney 744 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 562 
			 Haringey 689 
			 Harrow 354 
			 Havering 383 
			 Hillingdon 495 
			 Hounslow 519 
			 Islington 678 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 568 
			 Kingston upon Thames 294 
			 Lambeth 953 
			 Lewisham 619 
			 Merton 377 
			 Newham 758 
			 Redbridge 467 
			 Richmond upon Thames 303 
			 Southwark 846 
			 Sutton 306 
			 Tower Hamlets 756 
			 Waltham Forest 543 
			 Wandsworth 599 
			 Heathrow 480 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Due to rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Video Recordings

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces routinely record on video, or audio tape, briefings to officers before armed operations.

Tony McNulty: The Association of Chief Police Officers Working Group on the Police Use of Firearms issued guidance on 18 June 2007 recommending that all forces should, where possible, aspire to audio record briefings for spontaneous and pre-planned firearms operations. This will help to assist post-incident investigations and provide a more robust audit trail of what information was given to officers prior to a firearms operation. It is a matter for individual chief officers to adopt the guidance in their forces.

Police: Witnesses

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officer days have been lost by each police force in England and Wales as a result of officers appearing as witnesses in court.

Tony McNulty: We are not able to provide figures for the number of officer days lost by each police force in England and Wales as a result of officers appearing as witnesses in court, because this information is not collected centrally.

Political Parties: Conferences

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs were of policing the annual party political conferences in each of the last three years; and how these costs were met.

Tony McNulty: Costs of policing annual party conferences fall to the relevant police authority. In recent years the Home Office has provided additional grant to the forces responsible for policing the annual conference of the two main parties. The amount of additional grant paid in the last three years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Year of party conference  Force  Amount of Government special grant ( million) 
			  Labour   
			 National autumn conferences   
			 2005-06 Sussex 3.589 
			 2006-07 Greater Manchester 3.984 
			 2007-08 Dorset 5.320 
			  Conservative   
			 National autumn conferences   
			 2005-06 Lancashire 1.400 
			 2006-07 Dorset 2.150 
			 2007-08 Lancashire 1.797

Prostitution: Illegal Immigrants

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women from central and eastern European countries were estimated to be working illegally in the sex industry in Britain in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: We do not collect this information centrally.

Rape: Drugs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training in the specific handling of cases of drug rape is available to police forces; and how many forces have taken up such training, broken down by rank of police officer provided with training.

Vernon Coaker: Drug rape training is addressed in the initial policing learning and development programme (IPLDP) and in the specially trained officer course (STO). These two specific learning programmes are aimed at examining, and dealing with, the impact of drugs and alcohol upon a victim subjected to sexually offending behaviour.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency provides national standardised training for delivery by all police forces in the above areas. Statistics on the numbers of officers who take up locally delivered training are not centrally collated.

Rape: Drugs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are equipped with readily available test kits to secure samples in the event of a complaint of drug rape.

Vernon Coaker: In the summer of 2007, 38 police forces in England and Wales reported that they were equipped with early evidence kits to secure samples in suspected drug or alcohol facilitated sexual assault cases. The other five forces were actively seeking to implement their use.

Respect Task Force

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total funding allocated to the Respect Task Force was in each year since it was established.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Respect Task Force received funding of 24.2 million in 2006-07 and 25.6 million in 2007-08.

Respect Task Force

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants currently work in, or for, the Respect Task Force; and at what pay grade each is employed.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the Machinery of Government changes announced earlier this year the Respect Task Force was transferred to the Department for Children Schools and Families. On 5 October a Youth Task Force was announced, incorporating the Respect Task Force.
	The headcount of the Youth Task Force is 14 full-time equivalent staff. The taskforce includes a mix of civil servants from several Government Departments for which pay bands vary. The headcount comprises of two senior civil servants, the remainder of staff are at departmental grades.

Security Industry Authority

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her statement of 13 November, 2007,  Official Report, columns 531-41, on the Security Industry Authority, if she will publish the findings of the taskforce chaired by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker), on 8 October.

Vernon Coaker: The taskforce is an informal working group intended to oversee the work relating to the right to work checks being carried out by the Security Industry Authority and the Border and Immigration Agency.
	The taskforce met for the first time on 8 October. It met again on 14 November, when it reviewed the actions required to ensure completion of the retrospective checks of existing non-EAA licence holders by December 2007, in accordance with the Home Secretary's undertaking to the House.

Terrorism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) killed and  (b) injured in terrorist attacks taking place in the UK in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Available information on persons killed relates to homicides recorded by police in England, Wales and Scotland each year between 2001-02 and 2005-06. Police recorded 52 homicides in 2005-06 where the circumstance was 'attributed to acts of terrorism'. Each of the victims were killed as a result of the London bombings of 7 July 2005. There were no terrorist-related homicides recorded between 2001-02 and 2004-05.
	The Official Report in to the 7 July London bombings states that an additional 700 persons were injured in the four attacks. It is not known how many injuries may have been inflicted as a result of terrorist activity in earlier years as details of the individual circumstances of offences are not included on the recorded crime datasets held by the Home Office and Scottish Executive.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children Maintenance

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of cases in each constituency being dealt with by the Child Support Agency in Scotland under the old system which will remain open when the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's rules are introduced.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 13 November 2007
	 The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 22 November 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of cases in each constituency being dealt with by the Child Support Agency in Scotland under the old system which will remain open when the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's rules are introduced.
	At the end of September 2007, the Child Support Agency had 67,900 cases assessed under old rules where the non-resident parent lived in Scotland. This figure covers all cases, including those with a positive assessment as well as those currently with a nil maintenance liability. It also includes those cases where the old rules are being processed on both the old and new computer systems.
	It is expected the number of old scheme cases will reduce from around 740,000 to around 300,000 before cases move into the new statutory maintenance service expected to start in 2010-11. The reason for this is predominantly the age and nature of these cases. It is also expected that a number of clients will wish to leave the statutory maintenance service and make their own arrangements following the removal of compulsion. No separate estimates have been made for Scotland or at a constituency level.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to Government departments on the effect of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's report of August 2007 on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis as it affects his Department's responsibilities.

Anne McGuire: No guidance has been issued. The report of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is about the way chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is treated within the NHS and has no implications for this Department's responsibilities.

Council Tax Benefit: Post Offices

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of recipients of council tax benefit in Eastbourne constituency who draw it from post offices.

James Plaskitt: Council tax benefit is awarded as a rebate against council tax liability; payments of the benefit are not routinely made to claimants in a format where encashment is necessary.

Departmental Manpower

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Welsh speakers his Department employs.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not available in the format requested. My Department has adopted a Welsh Language Scheme approved by the Welsh Language Board on 13 July 2004 and is committed to treating the Welsh and English languages on a basis of equality when providing a service to the public in Wales.
	We do not collect figures for the number of Welsh-speaking staff in the Department as a whole. Around 400 staff in Wales have voluntarily identified themselves as active Welsh speakers. This figure includes staff employed full-time in our specialist Welsh language units.

Disability Discrimination Act: Mentally Ill

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people who have been unable to file a claim under the six month rule of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 because of mental health problems; and whether he will consider extending the limit to 12 months, where mental health issues are shown to be a reason for the delay.

Anne McGuire: There is no central data held on the number of people who have been unable to file a claim of discrimination under the six month rule of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. My Department has made no assessment of the number of such cases, but I do not consider it necessary to extend the limit to 12 months where mental health issues are shown to be a reason for the delay in making a claim. This is because provisions in Paragraph 6(3) to Schedule 3 of the Act already allow a court to consider a claim under section 25(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act which is out of time if, in all the circumstances of the case, it considers that it is just and equitable to do so.
	(1) Section 25 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 concerns enforcement of the provisions:
	in Part 3 of the Act, which includes coverage of access to goods, facilities, and services; public authority functions; and premises; and
	in sections 57 and 58, which concern the aiding of unlawful acts and the liability of employers and principals

Incapacity Benefit: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Bassetlaw received incapacity benefit in the latest period for which figures are available; how many of these were over 55; and what his Department's target is to reduce the number of incapacity benefit claimants in Bassetlaw.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in the Bassetlaw parliamentary constituencyMay 2007 
			 All Claimants 5,890 
			 Aged 55 and over 2,050 
			  Note:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data. 
		
	
	There is no specific target for reducing the numbers on incapacity benefits in Bassetlaw. The Government wants to reduce the numbers on incapacity benefits in Great Britain by one million by 2015.

Pension Credit

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many men over the age of 60 and under the age of 65 are claiming pension credit.

Mike O'Brien: As at May 2007 there are 209,290 men aged between 60 and 64 claiming pension credit. Around a further 17,000 men aged between 60 and 64 have partners who claim pension credit on their behalf.
	 Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. The number of men claiming pension credit come from 100 per cent. data.
	3. Those men claiming pension credit could be claiming either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	4. The number of men whose partners claim on their behalf comes from five per cent. data which has been adjusted in line with 100 per cent. WPLS data and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and five per cent. samples

Pension Credit: Wales

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many men under the age of 65 resident in Wales voluntarily opted to claim pension credit instead of jobseeker's allowance after attaining the age of 60;
	(2)  how many men aged between 60 and 65 resident in Wales claim pension credit.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Men aged between 60 and 64 can choose themselves whether they claim either jobseekers allowance or pension credit, providing they meet the qualifying conditions of the relevant benefit.
	As at May 2007 there were 12,560 men aged between 60 and 64 claiming pension credit in Wales. Around a further 1,500 men aged between 60 and 64 have partners who claim pension credit on their behalf.
	 Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. The number of men claiming pension credit comes from 100 per cent. data.
	3. Those men claiming pension credit could be claiming either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	4. The number of men whose partners claim on their behalf comes from five per cent. data which has been adjusted in line with 100 per cent. WPLS data and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and five per cent. samples

Personal Income

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the range of incomes in  (a) each decile,  (b) the top 5 per cent.,  (c) the top 1 per cent.,  (d) the top 0.1 per cent. and  (e) the top 0.01 per cent. of incomes in the UK population.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 November 2007
	Information for each decile is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Household income of individuals in pounds per week equivalised, for each decile, 2005-06 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 Decile 1 181 132 
			 Decile 2 226 179 
			 Decile 3 269 221 
			 Decile 4 313 263 
			 Decile 5 362 310 
			 Decile 6 416 359 
			 Decile 7 482 420 
			 Decile 8 573 504 
			 Decile 9 734 654 
		
	
	Information on the top 5 per cent. is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Household income of individuals in pounds per week equivalised, for the top 5 per cent. of the income distribution, 2005-06 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 Top 5 per cent. 939 842 
			  Notes: 1. Household incomes for individuals in the UK are shown as equivalised pounds in 2005-06 prices. Equivalisation is the process by which household income is adjusted by household size and composition as a proxy for material living standards. 2. The first table shows the maximum income per week in each decile group. This is in contrast to DWP's National Statistics' series Households Below Average Income where each decile of the income distribution is presented using the median of that decile. 3. The second table presents the household income of the 95th percentile of the income distribution. 4. All estimates are subject to sampling error.  Source: Family Resources Survey. 
		
	
	Information on the top 1 per cent., top 0.1 per cent. and top 0.01 per cent. is not
	available from the Family Resources Survey due to small sample sizes.

Poverty: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Wales lived in poverty in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of individuals living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income in Wales 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 630,000 770,000 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 660,000 780,000 
			 1996-97 to 1998-99 650,000 760,000 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 650,000 740,000 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 630,000 720,000 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 620,000 720,000 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 610,000 700,000 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 620,000 690,000 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 600,000 650,000 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 600,000 640,000 
			  Notes: 1. The preferred measure of low income is by using a threshold of 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income. This is an internationally recognised measure. 2. Numbers are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with any previously published single-year estimates. In cases such as a change in trend, moving averages will show less variation than single-year estimates. 3. Table shows numbers to the nearest 10,000. 4. On both the BHC and AHC bases, the income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.  Source: Family Resources Survey.

Social Security Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is for the amount of unclaimed means-tested benefits in 2006-07.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of the amount of unclaimed means-tested benefits in 2006-07 are not available.
	The latest estimates relate to 2005-06. These estimates cover the take-up of the main income-related benefitspension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and income-based jobseeker's allowanceand are available in the DWP publication series entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2005-06. Copies of the latest publication, together with past reports, can be found in the Library.

Social Security Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the clinical guidelines of August 2007 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on Chronic Fatigue/Syndrome Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in relation to benefits applicants;
	(2)  if he will review the questionnaire and medical examination process established by his Department for benefits applicants with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in light of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's report of August 2007.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 544w.

Social Security Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the Jobcentre Plus questionnaire Incapacity for Work (Form JB65) for those with Chronic Fatigue/Syndrome Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in light of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's report of August 2007.

Anne McGuire: The report of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is about the way chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is treated within the NHS. The Department recognises chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a real and potentially very disabling condition. Each person claiming benefit is assessed on the basis of the way the condition affects them as an individual.
	Jobcentre Plus has a number of forms for customers who claim Incapacity Benefit irrespective of their illness and/or their disability. Although there are no plans to review these forms as result of the NICE report, all forms/letters are reviewed annually.

Unemployment Benefits: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of people in Eastbourne receive out-of-work benefits.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Numbers of working-age claimants of out-of-work benefits, and the proportion of the working age population this represents, in the Eastbourne parliamentary constituency, as at May 2007 
			   Number  Proportion (percentage) 
			 Total claiming out of work benefits 7,270 13.8 
			 Unemployed 1,400 2.7 
			 Incapacity benefits 4,380 8.3 
			 Income supportlone parents 1,200 2.3 
			 Other (IS others and PC) 290 0.5 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 3. Figures are not seasonally adjusted. 4. Unemployed category is taken from the JSA claimant count rates and proportions data published by ONS. Time series data are available from www.nomisweb.co.uk this 100 per cent. series is the most reliable and up-to-date source for claimant unemployment below regional level. 5. This table includes the main out-of-work client group categories, with the exception of carers who are not subject to activation policies in the same way as other groups.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPL; Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases); and ONS, Population Estimates Unit.

Unemployment: Disadvantaged

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the reasons for worklessness among social tenants.

Caroline Flint: DWP provided a significant amount of analysis for Professor John Hills, who carried out an assessment of the role of social housing in the 21 century.
	The Department has commissioned the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam university to undertake research into the links between social housing and worklessness. The research is expected to report towards the end of this year.
	The Department is also currently carrying out analysis to quantify how much worklessness in the social rented sector is explained by characteristics of social tenants.

Unemployment: Prisoners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into worklessness among ex-prisoners; and what steps he has taken to promote the employment of ex-prisoners.

Caroline Flint: DWP has commissioned three studies relating to worklessness and ex-prisoners.
	Research report 464 progress2work and progress2work-LinkUP: an exploratory study into evaluation possibilities was published on 30 October 2007. A copy of this report is available in the Library.
	A qualitative study following up on 40 prisoners for six months after leaving prison is due to be published in spring 2008. This will examine how support services can best be delivered to encourage employment outcomes and will explore the barriers faced by ex-prisoners as they make the transition from prison into the community.
	A Joint Pilots Baseline Study was commissioned in July 2007 and is due to report in 2009. This is an evaluative study of a number of innovative pilots focusing on hard-to-help individuals, particularly ex-prisoners. These include Job Developer Pilots (EXit2Work) and the Green Paper on Reducing Re-offending Through Skills and Employment Test Bed regions.
	Activities supporting the employment of ex-prisoners include Jobcentre Plus staff working in prisons to facilitate job retention and search, and the pre-booking of interviews with Jobcentre Plus on release. Additional support is available through the contracted-out programme progress2work and progress2work-LinkUP, whose clients are ex-prisoners, drug addicts and the homeless. Ex-prisoners are also supported by mainstream services, and have early access to the new deals.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Economic Situation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of  (a) economic growth,  (b) employment levels and  (c) average wages in Afghanistan; what such figures were in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government do not make their own formal assessment of economic growth, employment levels and average wages in Afghanistan, but use data from surveys and analysis carried out by the Government of Afghanistan and international agencies. Because data quality on Afghanistan is poor, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of each year since 2001.
	The Afghan economy has grown by between 40 per cent. and 70 per cent. since 2002, driven primarily by high aid inflows and the opium economy. These high growth rates are a result of the economy's low starting base and are expected to drop to around 7 per cent. over the next five years.
	According to UN estimates, the current overall unemployment rate in Afghanistan is around 32 per cent. The rate for marginalized groups such as women and the disabled is much higher.
	Annual labour market data quality in Afghanistan is very poor but improving. The average wage for an Afghan worker is currently around $375 a year, based on GDP and population figures in the UNDP Human Development Report 2007.

Afghanistan: Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of children in  (a) primary,  (b) secondary and  (c) tertiary education in Afghanistan in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government use data on education from surveys and analysis carried out by the Government of Afghanistan and international agencies. Because data quality on Afghanistan is so poor, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of each year since 2001.
	According to the latest analysis by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, 5.4 million children are in primary and secondary education in 2007, a third of these girls. Attendance is lower in rural areas compared to urban areas. This compares with an estimated 1 million children in primary and secondary school in 2001, of whom very few were girls, as they were officially denied access to education under the Taliban.
	There are currently 52,000 students in tertiary education in 2007. Current demand for higher education is four times the available supply of places and will only be met with large increases in the number of lecturers.

Afghanistan: Electricity Generation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the availability of supply of  (a) electricity and  (b) water in Afghanistan; what assessment he has made of such availability in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government have not made any formal assessments of their own of the availability of supply of electricity and water in Afghanistan. Because data quality on Afghanistan is so poor, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of each year since 2001.
	The Government of Afghanistan carried out a National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) in 2005 which provided information on a wide range of socio-economic indicators. The report found that:
	Just 31 per cent. of Afghan households have access to safe drinking water. Kuchi (nomad) households have the lowest access to safe drinking water at 16 per cent., while rural households have 26 per cent. access and urban households have 64 per cent. access.
	Just 23 per cent. of Afghan households have access to any type of electrical power at some time during the year. Kuchi households have just 4 per cent. access, while rural households have 13 per cent. access, and urban households have 74 per cent. access.
	A further NRVA is being carried out this year, with financial support from DFID. The results should be available by the end of 2008.

Afghanistan: Food

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of  (a) food prices and  (b) levels of food poverty in Afghanistan; what assessment he has made of such (i) prices and (ii) levels in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government do not make their own assessment of food prices and levels of food poverty in Afghanistan, but use data from surveys and analysis carried out by the Government of Afghanistan and international agencies. Because data quality on Afghanistan is poor, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of each year since 2001.
	Food price inflation has stayed stable at an average of 8 per cent. per year since 2003. However these prices are likely to increase in the future due to significant increases in international food prices.
	Food poverty in 2005, as measured by the number of people consuming less than 2,100 calories a day, was 30 per cent. The figure for rural and urban Afghanistan is almost the same. There is no reliable time series, but according to the United Nations, during 2001-04 the proportion of people suffering food poverty in rural areas remained relatively constant. This suggests that the majority of Afghans manage to maintain a minimum level of calorie intake despite year-to-year rainfall fluctuations. However millions are still chronically or seasonally food insecure.

Afghanistan: Life Expectancy

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of levels of  (a) infant mortality,  (b) maternal mortality and  (c) life expectancy in Afghanistan in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government does not make its own assessment of mortality and life expectancy in Afghanistan, but uses data from surveys and analysis carried out by the Government of Afghanistan and international agencies. Because data quality on Afghanistan is poor, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of each year since 2001.
	The Afghanistan human development report 2007, produced by the UNDP together with the University of Kabul, currently estimates the infant mortality rate in 2007 to be 135 deaths out of every 1,000 births. This compares to a health survey carried out in 2006 by the Government of Afghanistan with John Hopkins University which estimated the infant mortality rate to have been 165 deaths per 1,000 births in 2000.
	The Afghanistan human development report 2007 estimates the maternal mortality rate to be 1,600 deaths per 100,000 births in 2007.
	The Afghanistan Human Development Report 2007 estimates life expectancy in Afghanistan to be 43 years in 2007, and according to estimates by the UN and the Government of Afghanistan it was 47 years in 2005 and 43 years in 2001.

Bangladesh: Storms

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to contribute to the recovery efforts in Bangladesh following the recent cyclone.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government have announced a contribution of 2.5 million for immediate cyclone relief efforts, channelled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to provide food, safe water, medical treatment and housing repairs. In addition, we will consider our response to additional needs identified once damage and needs assessments have been carried out by the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations (UN).

Departmental Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many reports have been made to his Department's nominated officers under paragraph 16 of the revised Civil Service Code since its publication on 6 June 2006;
	(2)  how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been reported to his Department by departmental staff since 6 June 2006;
	(3)  when his Department's whistleblowing procedures were reviewed to reflect the provisions in the revised Civil Service Code.

Shahid Malik: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Cabinet Office Parliamentary Secretary and Minister for the East Midlands on 19 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 596-97W.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: DFID has been taking action over the past few years to actively manage out cases where staff had been on long term sick leave for over 12 months. Early intervention has allowed formal disciplinary action to be avoided and there have been no disciplinary cases related to a poor sick record during the period. Details are as follows:
	
		
			   Reason for dismissal  Number of cases 
			 2003 Ill health retirement 3 
			 2004  0 
			 2005 Ill health retirement 3 
			 2006 Inefficiencyhealth related 5 
			 2007 Ill health retirement 2

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights agreement on developing countries who wish to manufacture generic HIV/AIDS drugs.

Gareth Thomas: There has been no formal assessment of this issue by the Government, but in 2004 the Department for International Development (DFID) funded seven independent studies that, inter alia, seek to assess the impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on developing countries who wish to manufacture generic HIV/AIDS drugs. These are summarised in a 2004 publication by the DFID Health Systems Resource Centre: Access to medicines in under-served markets: what are the implications of changes in intellectual property rights, trade and drug registration policy?
	This is available at:
	http://www.dfidhealthrc.org/publications/atm/DFID_synthesis_aw.pdf.
	These studies suggest that local production, which may be facilitated by TRIPS flexibilities, can contribute to better access and availability, but only if countries have the skills, infrastructure and regulatory capacity to produce and deliver quality medicines at lower prices than the brand-name producer.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which developing countries have been able to use Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights for domestic production of generic HIV/AIDS drugs.

Gareth Thomas: To the best of our knowledge, the following countries have utilised, as permitted under the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, government use or compulsory licensing provisions for the production of generic versions of HIV/AIDS drugs: Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand and Zimbabwe.

Guatemala: Children

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much UK aid has been given to the Government of Guatemala for projects aimed at improving the welfare of Guatemalan street children;
	(2)  what representations he has made to the Government of Guatemala on the welfare of Guatemalan street children.

Gareth Thomas: The British embassy in Guatemala City has supported many local NGO projects on child rights including a sustainable programme for police officers in the city centre. This aims to improve officers' dealings with street children, ensure the inclusion of child rights in the Police Academy training curriculum and encourage efforts to bring child abusers to justice.
	DFID also provides core funding to UNICEF who run programmes throughout Central America aimed at improving children's access to health and education. Street children have also benefited from UNICEF's programmes in the region on HIV and AIDS and to eliminate child labour and violence against children.

India and Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much UK development aid was given to  (a) India and  (b) Pakistan in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how much aid the UK Government gave to Pakistan in each year since 2000.

Douglas Alexander: Details of the UK's bilateral assistance and imputed multilateral assistance to India and Pakistan since 2000 are laid out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK total bilateral gross public expenditure on development 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  000 
			   India  Pakistan 
			 2000-01 126,700 15,890 
			 2001-02 198,576 44,838 
			 2002-03 182,708 46,852 
			 2003-04 242,736 66,299 
			 2004-05 267,510 55,277 
			 2005-06 270,065 97,688 
			 2006-07 293,706 118,150 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed UK share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 2001-05 
			  000 
			   India  Pakistan 
			 2000 41,177 14,192 
			 2001 67,697 63,878 
			 2002 17,236 28,343 
			 2003 63,004 34,391 
			 2004 27,271 27,729 
			 2005 63,482 43,968

Iraq: Economic Situation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of  (a) economic growth,  (b) employment levels and  (c) average wages in Iraq; what such figures were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The most recent statistics that we have seen on the Iraqi economy are as follows:
	
		
			   Economic growth (Percentage)  Employment levels (Percentage)  Hourly wages (Iraqi Dinar) 
			 2003 -41.5 28 n/a 
			 2004 46.5 18.4 833 
			 2005 3.7 n/a n/a 
			 2006 3 n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not available.  Sources: World Bank. UNDP. World Food Programme (WFP). Central Office of Statistics and Information Technology (Government of Iraq).

Iraq: Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of children in  (a) primary,  (b) secondary and  (c) tertiary education in Iraq in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) estimate the numbers of children in education in Iraq as follows:
	
		
			   Total enrolment in primary  Total enrolment in secondary  Total enrolment in tertiary, full and part- time 
			 2001 4,031,346 1,257,106 n/a 
			 2002 4,135,761 (1)1,294,395 (1)317,993 
			 2003 4,280,602 1,477,616 n/a 
			 2004 4,334,609 1,706,234 412,545 
			 2005 (1)4,430,267 (1)1,751,164 1424,908 
			 2006 n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not available (1 )UIS estimation

Iraq: Electricity Generation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the availability of supply of  (a) electricity and  (b) water in Iraq; what assessment he has made of such availability in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The US Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) estimate that electricity generation since November 2006 has fluctuated between 3,500 megawatts (MW) and 4,975 MW. The average for 2006 was 4,400 MW, just above the pre-2003 level.
	Although 5,000 MW have been added to the national grid since 2003, electricity generation in Iraq is not meeting demand. This is due to several reasons: old and dilapidated infrastructure; a result of years of under-investment and mismanagement; shortage of fuel supplies; and sabotage of key facilities. Furthermore, demand has increased considerably to over 9,000 MW, with the influx of electrical goods such as refrigerators, televisions and air conditioning units.
	The most recent reliable data available for water supplies in Iraq comes from the Iraq living conditions survey carried out in 2004 by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation and the United Nations Development programme. This survey can be found at:
	http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm.
	The 2004 UN survey found that in urban areas, 99 per cent. of households have access to safe drinking water (but for 33 per cent. the supply is unreliable). In rural areas, 65 per cent. of households-have access to safe drinking water (but for 22 per cent. the supply is unreliable). Since 2003, donors (including DFID) have worked hard to restore supplies. As a result, IRMO estimates that an additional 5.4 million Iraqis have improved access to drinking water.

Iraq: Food

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of  (a) food prices and  (b) levels of food poverty in Iraq; what assessment he has made of such (i) prices and (ii) levels in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The most reliable data we have is a survey conducted in 2005 by the World Food programme (WFP) and Government of Iraq. The survey found that four million people in Iraq are considered food insecure and in need of food assistancethis equals 15 per cent. of the population. The survey found that a further 8.3 million people would be rendered food insecure if they were not provided food rations through the public distribution system (PDS).
	The only information we have on food prices are the Government of Iraq's food inflation figures (i.e. the rate at which food prices are increasing).
	
		
			  End of year  Food inflation (Percentage) 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 26 
			 2006 36 
			 2007(1) 9 
			 (1)September 2007 inflation rate (the latest available).  Source: Central Office of Statistics and Information Technology (Government of Iraq)

Iraq: Life Expectancy

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of levels of  (a) infant mortality,  (b) maternal mortality and  (c) life expectancy in Iraq; what such levels were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Iraq remains on the list of the 60 countries in the world with the highest infant, under-five and maternal mortality rates. The latest joint UNICEFGovernment of Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was published in March 2006. It estimated an infant mortality rate at 35 per 1,000 live births. The under-five mortality rate was estimated at 41 per 1,000 live births. According to a 2004 Iraq Living Conditions Survey (ILCS), the maternal mortality rate was 192 per 100,000 live births. There are no fully reliable or up-to-date figures on life expectancy in Iraq.
	The Government of Iraq has primary responsibility for ensuring the welfare of its own citizens, including children. However, the UN, led by UNICEF, continues to support the Iraqi Government to improve nutrition rates in Iraq through infant feeding campaigns, the provision of medical supplies and other support. DFID is supporting humanitarian agencies providing emergency relief, including food assistance, to children and other vulnerable groups. Since 2003, DFID has committed over 130 million in humanitarian assistance, of which 15 million has been for this year alone.

Sustainable Cocoa Chain Programme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to facilitate a sustainable cocoa chain programme to eradicate child trafficking in the global cocoa industry;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to provide financial support to the sustainable cocoa chain programme announced by Cargill and others on 10 October 2007.

Gareth Thomas: The UK is committed to the development of fair and ethical supply chains in all sectors. We are supporting initiatives to increase the transparency of the supply chain and reduce the risk of child labour and trafficking. This includes promotion of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which outline that the Government expect UK companies to contribute to the effective abolition of child labour. We also support responsible business through the work of the Ethical Trading Initiative and the Fairtrade Foundation.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) does not and has not been asked to provide financial support to the new programme announced by Cargill last month. We welcome initiatives from the private sector to support sustainable supply chains in cocoa and other sectors. We encourage co-ordination and co-operation between all those working on this issue.

Terrorism

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 667-86, on national security, on what projects his Department's share of the 400 million allocated to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas will be spent; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Actions DFID undertakes as part of its mandate to reduce poverty also address the causes of radicalisation. Where appropriate, DFID will support:
	Increased political participation, including strengthening civil society as a source of political accountability and as a means of representing excluded groups.
	Improvements in the quality of education in both formal and non-formal systems.
	More responsive government and the provision of public services in previously neglected areas.
	High quality policing and access to justice for ordinary people.
	A strengthened voice for women.
	Independent media that can educate, inform and improve the quality of public debate.
	In addition, DFID will introduce schemes to promote understanding of international poverty issues and seek to make development a common concern for diverse British communities.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Opinion Leader Research

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women what contracts relating to its policies on women and equalities the Government have granted to Opinion Leader Research since 1997; and what  (a) the title and purpose of the project,  (b) the cost to the public purse and  (c) the dates at which (i) the project was put to tender, (ii) the project was awarded to Opinion Leader Research, (iii) the project was carried out, (iv) the project was completed and (v) the project's findings were presented to Government in each instance.

Harriet Harman: On 21 September 2005, a contract was awarded to Opinion Leader Research to carry out a social research project, Today's Woman: A picture of women in Britain today, to explore the aspirations and concerns facing women in the UK. This award was based on expertise and value for money. The cost of the research came to 76,836.51.
	The project had been put to competitive tender in August 2005 and four organisations had submitted proposals.
	The research was conducted between October 2005 and January 2006, and analysis completed in June 2006. The findings were presented to Government and incorporated into a report, Today's Woman: Your say in the Future, published in June 2007.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: The Government are committed to increase opportunities for small and local suppliers to tender for contracts, thus increasing competition and securing better value for money. The Cabinet Office ensures that in house catering providers include locally produced goods as part of their menus.

Departmental ICT

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which manufacturers' software is used in his Department.

Gillian Merron: The operating system and office support software used on the corporate Cabinet Office IT network is supplied by Microsoft. This is complemented by products from other software suppliers such as Citrix, Adobe and Macromedia as business needs dictate.

Departmental Manpower

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people aged  (a) 30 to 39,  (b) 40 to 49,  (c) 50 to 59 and  (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in the Cabinet Office in 2007.

Gillian Merron: The Department does not ask for information on age or date of birth during the application process and it is not, therefore, seen by anyone involved in the decisions about whether to interview or appoint. It is, however, collected separately from applicants on the equality monitoring form.
	Since January 2007, the Cabinet Office has conducted 45 external recruitment competitions. The following table provides the data on age groups for applicants and candidates invited to interview, using equality monitoring data collected for external recruitment exercises since January 2007:
	
		
			  Age category  Applied  Invited to interview 
			 17-30 480 32 
			 30-39 375 38 
			 40-49 297 28 
			 50-59 145 12 
			 60-69 17 0 
			 Information not provided 475 21 
			 Grand total 1,789 131 
		
	
	The following table provides information on all external appointees for that period and age category:
	
		
			  Age category  Permanent  Temporary/fixed-term appointment 
			 30-39 10 5 
			 40-49 5 1 
			 50-59 3 0 
			 60-69 0 0 
			 Other 27 13 
			 Grand total 45 19

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued on the relationship between special advisers and civil servants.

Edward Miliband: The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out the responsibilities and standards of conduct expected of special advisers, including relations with the permanent civil service. Copies of the Code of Conduct are in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the office costs for his Department's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers.

Edward Miliband: One civil servant supports the special advisers in my office, providing administrative support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
	Individual civil servants' salary details are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned. Office costs will be accounted for in the 2007-08 Cabinet Office Annual Resource Accounts.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what entertainment or hospitality members of his Department's management board received in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office keeps a record of sick days taken by  (a) Ministers and  (b) special advisers in (i) his and (ii) other Departments.

Edward Miliband: Special advisers are temporary civil servants. The rules on sickness absence for civil servants are set out in the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House and online at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp.
	Guidance on arrangements during ministerial absences from their Departments is set out in the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

European Union

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many EU flags are  (a) held and  (b) owned by his Department and its agencies.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office holds and owns two EU flags.

Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to issue guidance on the stock of home supplies over and above that which is already available contained in the Planning for Emergencies publication as a consequence of Exercise Winter Willow; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The advice on stocking home supplies contained in the Government's Planning for Emergencies guidance is being reviewed by an officials working group considering the specific issues relating to an influenza pandemic, if necessary, the guidance will be updated accordingly.

Media Monitoring Reports

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library copies of the media monitoring reports produced for the Strategy Unit between the period 21 October to 26 October.

Edward Miliband: I have placed copies of the relevant reports in the Libraries of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street: Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many staff are employed to translate material on the No. 10 Downing Street website;
	(2)  how much has been spent translating material on the No. 10 Downing Street website since 1 January 2007, including the cost of staff time.

Gordon Brown: Translation services are provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the costs for which are met from existing budgets.

Academies

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what role is being played by officials in his Policy Unit in the review of the academies programme; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister occupies the official ministerial residence in Admiralty House previously occupied by the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1135W.

Departmental Assets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Prime Minister what assets of his Office are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 1069-70W.

Departmental Ministerial Duties

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister who would  (a) chair Cabinet meetings and  (b) assume his other Prime Ministerial responsibilities in the event of his sudden incapacity.

Gordon Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2102W.

Departmental Opinion Polls

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what opinion polls No. 10 Downing street has conducted of  (a) the public and  (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case.

Gordon Brown: None.

Foreign Workers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister who was responsible for the inclusion of the phrase British jobs for British workers in his speech of 24 September.

Gordon Brown: This speech is a matter of public record. I am responsible for the content of my speeches.

Iraq Conflict

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what was the contribution to the Joint Intelligence Committee's assessments in the build up to the war on Iraq of the CIA's liaison officer in London.

Gordon Brown: These matters have been examined during the course of the Butler Review and other inquiries, and covered during debates and statements on Iraq and in briefings by my predecessor's official spokesman. All relevant information has been placed in the public domain in as far as that could be done without prejudicing national security.

Jordan: Whaling

Tom Brake: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with King Abdullah of Jordan on 7 November about Jordan's possible membership of the International Whaling Commission.

Gordon Brown: I discussed a wide range of issues with King Abdullah II during his recent visit, including education and the Middle East. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw) to my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Chris McCafferty) on 25 October 2007,  Official Report, column 521W.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what the office costs for No. 10 Downing street's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers.

Gordon Brown: Figures for the financial year 2007-08 will be published in the usual way after the end of the financial year.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the list of special advisers following his appointment.

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  which special advisers work for the Government; which Minister was responsible for appointing each; and what the pay band of each is;
	(2)  how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) staff are employed in each section of his Office.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I made today.

Ministers: Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of paying additional  (a) salaries and  (b) pension contributions for the additional Ministers he has employed since 27 June 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1070W.

Speeches

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how many full-time equivalents work on speech-writing in his Office.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 625W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many criminal charges of animal cruelty were brought in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The number of people charged with offences relating to animal cruelty is not collected centrally; however, the number of people prosecuted for such offences is collected and is set out in the following table.
	Data cover the calendar years 2001 to 2005 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Number prosecuted for cruelty to animals by offence 2001-05 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Owner permitting cruelty to animal 1 0 4 2 0 
			 Cruelty to animals 4 2 13 9 12 
			 Permitting cruelty to animals 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Causing unnecessary suffering to animals 13 6 11 9 10 
			 Causing unnecessary suffering to livestock 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Abandoning animal 1 0 1 0 3 
			 Unlawful animal fighting 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 19 9 31 20 28

Drugs: Custodial Treatment

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of those convicted for supplying illegal drugs in Northern Ireland were given a custodial sentence in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The following table gives the number convicted of supplying illegal drugs and the number and percentage of those convicted who were sentenced to immediate custody.
	Data cover the calendar years 1996 to 2005 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; therefore only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Number convicted of supplying illegal drugs( 1)  and the number and percentage of those convicted who were sentenced to immediate custody 1996-2005 
			   Number convicted  Number sentenced to immediate custody  Percentage sentenced to immediate custody 
			 1996 69 37 54 
			 1997 50 33 66 
			 1998 22 5 23 
			 1999 25 14 56 
			 2000 35 21 60 
			 2001 19 9 47 
			 2002 9 5 56 
			 2003 16 10 63 
			 2004 24 6 25 
			 2005 15 4 27 
			 (1) Includes supplying and being concerned in supply/offering to supply a controlled drug and excludes possession with intent to supply

JUSTICE

Criminal Cases Review Commission: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what funding the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received from the Government in each year since its establishment;
	(2)  how many staff the Criminal Cases Review Commission employed in each year since its establishment;
	(3)  how many cases were referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since its establishment.

Maria Eagle: The data requested are given in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of staff( 1)  Applications( 2)  Grant in aid including capital( 3)  () 
			 1997-98 47 1103 4,303,977 
			 1998-99 57 1037 4,517,134 
			 1999-2000 68 777 5,530,000 
			 2000-01 88 800 5,415,000 
			 2001-02 96 834 6,525,000 
			 2002-03 91 932 7,000,000 
			 2003-04 92 885 7,800,000 
			 2004-05 95 989 5,750,000 
			 2005-06 97 1011 6,834,628 
			 2006-07 94 1051 6,744,000 
			 (1 )The staff in post figures are the numbers in post at the year end and do not include the Commissioners. (2) The applications received have been adjusted for refused applications which were omitted from CCRC's published data in 2005-06 and part of the immediately preceding and subsequent years. 279 cases were transferred from the Home Office. (3) The amounts shown are for grant in aid and capital (cash or near cash). This is not the total resource budget which will include non-cash costs such as depreciation and the cost of capital. The low figure for 2004-05 was due to the requirement for the CCRC to use reserves of grant in aid of around 1m which it had been holding against Treasury guidelines.

Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department plans to move any of its offices to Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Maria Eagle: Neither the Ministry of Justice nor any of its arms length bodies have plans to move offices to the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Departmental Public Participation

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what opinion research his Department has undertaken on the proposals in the White Paper, The Governance of Britain.

Michael Wills: My Department has undertaken no opinion research on the proposals in the Governance of Britain Green Paper.
	The Government will seek to engage all the people of this country in a debate about the future of the British constitution.

Departmental Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish his Department's autumn performance report.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice autumn performance report is expected to be published on 6 December 2007.

Miscarriages of Justice: Compensation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much compensation was paid to those who experienced miscarriages of justice in each year since 1992.

Maria Eagle: Listed in the following table is the combined total compensation paid under the discretionary and statutory miscarriage of justice compensation schemes since 1999-2000, the earliest year for which data is available.
	
		
			million 
			 1999-2000 5.65 
			 2000-01 8.05 
			 2001-02 6.17 
			 2002-03 8.12 
			 2003-04 6.25 
			 2004-05 6.45 
			 2005-06 8.27 
			 2006-07 12.87

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many registered vehicle owners were prosecuted for failing to comply with statutory off-road notification declarations in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06 and  (d) 2006-07.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of registered vehicle owners who were prosecuted for failing to comply with statutory off-road notification declarations is:
	
		
			   County court claims  Magistrates court cases 
			 2003-04  1,660 
			 2004-05 107,100 777 
			 2005-06 133,254  
			 2006-07 107,550  
		
	
	Prosecution procedures for statutory off-road notifications changed in 2004 from a criminal to a civil process.

Prisoners: Drugs

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 293-4W, on prisoners: drugs, which research is referred to; and what the  (a) title,  (b) author and  (c) date of publication is of each piece of research.

David Hanson: Further to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 293-4W, the research sources are as follows:
	 Information quoted:
	'Research evidence suggests that about 1 in 5 men and fewer than 1 in 10 women, who had used at least one of six drugs (cannabis, heroin, illicit methadone, amphetamine, crack and cocaine) reported first using one of them in prison'.
	 Source:
	(a) 'Substance misuse among prisoners in England and Wales: Further analysis of data from the ONS survey of psychiatric morbidity among prisoners in England and Wales carried out in 1997 on behalf of the Department of Health.'
	(b) Nicola Singleton, Michael Farrell, Howard Meltzer
	(c) 1999
	 Information quoted:
	'Research also shows that the level of drug misuse falls dramatically compared with use prior to imprisonment'.
	 Source:
	(a) Changing levels of drug use before, during and after imprisonment in 'Prisoners' drug use and treatment: seven research studies' (Home Office Research Study 267) Malcolm Ramsey (ed)
	(b) Tony Bullock
	(c) July 2003

Prisons: Finance

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what additional funding has been allocated to meet the  (a) capital and  (b) running costs of (i) the 8,000 new prison places announced by the former Home Secretary and (ii) the further 1,500 prison places announced by the former Lord Chancellor.

David Hanson: Estimated capital costs for the 8,000 place programme are around 1.5 billion and estimated annual running costs are expected to be around 0.35 billion once the programme is completed. No additional funding for this programme is, at present, required. Costs will be met by using existing resources and new funds from the Treasury.
	Funding has been confirmed for the first 500 of the additional 1,500 places announced in June this year. Decisions on the remaining 1,000 places will be made after Lord Carter has completed his review on the supply and demand of prison places.

Young Offender Institutions: Admissions

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) receptions to and  (b) releases from young offender institutions took place in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: Young Offender Institutions accommodate sentenced prisoners aged from 15 to 21. During 2005, a total of 17,819 sentenced young offenders were received into prison establishments in England and Wales, including 5,175 aged under 18. These figures can be found in table 7.6 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005 a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library and on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk. The corresponding figures for 2006 will be published later this year.
	We do not currently have consistent data to compare releases with receptions but expect to have reliable data for 2007 in early 2008.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Youth Justice Board

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the Youth Justice Board has decided not to extend the contract with Gladstone House Secure Care Home in Liverpool.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Youth Justice Board currently contracts with Liverpool county council for the provision of 16 places at Gladstone House secure children's home. The contract expires on 31 March 2008. Liverpool county council approached the board in September with a request that the contract be extended, at increased prices, and that the board should contract for two extra places. The council's proposal would have involved the board in expenditure of an additional 1 million a year and been at a higher rate than other secure provision in the North West. After careful consideration the Youth Justice Board decided that this would not be the most efficient and effective use of its resources.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education: Age Participation Rates

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when the Government expects to meet its 50 per cent. participation rate target in university education for young people aged 18 to 30 years.

Bill Rammell: Our long-term vision is that the UK should be a world leader on skills, in the upper quartile of OECD rankings by 2020, meeting the recommendations of the Leitch review. Consistent with that vision, we have set a long term primary target to increase the proportion of the work force with higher level skills from under 30 per cent. now to over 40 per cent. by 2020 and as a contribution towards that goal a supporting target to increase participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18-30 with growth of at least a percentage point every two years to the academic year 2010-11. The precise date on which we reach these targets will depend on the outcome of future spending reviews and on continuing to increase demand for higher education among people of all ages and backgrounds who would benefit from entering higher education. Our policies will therefore continue to increase and widen participation

Higher Education: Mature Students

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time mature students withdrew from their higher education course in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 The information available on non-continuation of mature higher education students is shown in tables 1 and 2. The figures are taken from the Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Table 1 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled mature full-time first degree entrants to higher education institutions in England, who do not continue in higher education after their first year. Table 2 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled mature full-time other undergraduate entrants to higher education institutions in England who do not continue in higher education after their first year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of UK-domiciled mature full-time first degree entrants to English higher education institutions not continuing in higher education after their first year 
			  Academic year  Percentage 
			 2001/02 14.8 
			 2002/03 15.1 
			 2003/04 15.4 
			 2004/05 14.0 
			  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of mature full-time other undergraduate entrants to English higher education institutions not continuing in higher education after their first year 
			  Academic year  Percentage 
			 2001/02 15.8 
			 2002/03 14.5 
			 2003/04 74.3 
			 2004/05 14.8 
			  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA 
		
	
	Figures for 2005/06 will become available in 2008.
	HESA do not publish figures on the percentage of part-time students not continuing in higher education after their first year.

Mentally Ill: Employment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will continue Learning and Skills Council funding of charities which assist people who suffer from mental health problems to return to work, with particular reference to InterAct in Chelmsford.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 14 November 2007
	 My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has just issued the Learning and Skills Council with its Grant Letter 2008-09, and a copy has been placed in the House Libraries. However, the funding of specific organisations providing learning opportunities for post-16 learners is an operational matter for the LSC as it determines the level of funding required at local level to deliver their key priorities and targets. The LSC will continue funding of any organisation (whether they are charitable or not) which can assist people who suffer from mental health problems to return to work through learning and skills provision, where it is clear that the organisation can deliver the quality and type of provision to meet the requirements of the LSC in ensuring the very best for those learners, and where this type of work has been identified as a priority for funding.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Enterprise Initiatives: North-East

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of impediments to enterprise in the north-east.

Gareth Thomas: Specific responsibility for economic development and increasing enterprise in the North East of England falls to Regional Development Agency One North East (ONE) which has commissioned a wide range of research to provide the evidence base to help focus their regional economic strategy.

National Minimum Wage

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of employees who will be affected by the recent increase in the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Around one million people stand to benefit from the October 2007 uprating, nearly two thirds of them women.

National Minimum Wage

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with HM Treasury on penalties for employers who fail to comply with national minimum wage legislation.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with HM Treasury on penalties for employers who fail to comply with minimum wage legislation.

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussion he has had with HM Treasury on penalties for employers who fail to comply with national minimum wage legislation.

Patrick McFadden: BERR officials discussed new penalty proposals with HM Treasury and other interested departments before issuing a public consultation this May. The consultation asked for views on the introduction of a penalty for all non-compliant employers as well as a fairer method of repaying workers who have been underpaid. We will be issuing the Government's response to the consultation shortly.

National Minimum Wage

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Low Pay Commission assesses the effect of the minimum wage as part of its remit. The national minimum wage continues to be highly effective at helping the low paid through an increased minimum wage, while making sure that it does not damage the employment prospects.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the cost and financial implications associated with a new generation of nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government set out in their recent public consultation The Future of Nuclear Power their preliminary view is that it is in the public interest to give private sector energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations. Chapter 4 sets out the Government's view on the costs involved. I will announce a decision in the new year.

UK-EU Trade Balance

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the UK's trade balance was with all other EU member states in the last year for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The Office for National Statistics estimate that the UK deficit in trade in goods with the EU 27 was about 32 billion in 2006. Their latest estimate for trade in services was a balance close to zero.

Unfair Lending Practices

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps he has taken to tackle unfair lending practices.

Gareth Thomas: The Government are providing funding to step up enforcement action against illegal lenders (loan sharks) and help victims to access affordable credit.
	In addition through last years Consumer Credit Act consumers can access a free and independent complaints service without having to go to court. While courts have also been given stronger powers to consider whether a borrower has been treated unfairly.

Employment Rights

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to raise the awareness of employment rights among employers and employees; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Businesslink.gov website for employers and the Direct.gov site for employees provide authoritative advice on the full range of employment rights and a range of practical interactive tools that enable users to tailor the advice to their needs.
	In addition, the ACAS helpline deals with nearly one million inquiries from employers and employees each year; and my Department publishes the booklet Individual Rights and Responsibilities of Employees: a Guide for Employers and Employees.
	My Department works closely with ACAS and Citizens' Advice to guide citizens and employers to the most appropriate source of information.

Employment Rights

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to promote employment rights among low paid workers; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: People at work in Britain, particularly low paid workers, have benefited from the right to a minimum wage, paid holidays, rest breaks, time off for family emergencies, a cap on the working week and measures to support working parents; trade unions have the right to recognition by the employer where a majority of the workforce want it; part-time workers have the same rights as their full-time colleagues. The Government have introduced workplace protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, religion or belief and age; employees in larger organisations have rights to be informed and consulted about developments in the workplace.

Postal Services

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent progress there has been in implementing the Government's policy on postal services; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: On 17 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's response to the public consultation on the Post Office network. Post Office Ltd. is now carrying that forward through local implementation plans. The plan for Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, which includes Banbury, is due for public consultation in February 2008.

Post Offices: Northavon

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many sub-post offices there were in Northavon in 1997; how many there are; and whether he has made an estimate of the number which will be open after the review is complete.

Patrick McFadden: I have asked the managing director of Post Office Ltd to write to the hon. Member with regard to his question.
	Post Office Ltd is now developing local implementation plans and as yet no decisions have been made on individual post office closures. There are no local quotas for closures. I understand the local consultation for Bristol and Somerset, which includes the hon. Member's constituency is planned to start on 26 February 2008.

Post Offices

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what account he has taken of the level of deprivation, numbers of elderly people and the likely effects on business of post office closures in areas where closures are proposed.

Patrick McFadden: On 17 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's response to the public consultation on the post office network, which included the introduction of minimum access criteria. These criteria will ensure reasonable access across the whole country, and in particular safeguard coverage in rural, deprived urban and remote areas where communities are most in need of post office services.
	In developing local implementation plans Post Office Ltd will be required to consider local demographics and the impact on local economies.

Post Offices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the consultation process for post office closures.

Patrick McFadden: On 17 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government's response to the public consultation on the post office network, including details of the local consultation process.
	After local consultations are closed, Post Office Ltd will consider the responses, discuss any specific issues with Postwatch and make any changes to their proposals that they deem appropriate. There is also provision for Postwatch to nominate individual branches for further discussion and jointly review these with POL before final decisions are reached. The detailed consultation process is agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Post Office Ltd and Postwatch.

Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department plans to move any of its offices to Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Gareth Thomas: Individual units relocated and planned to be relocated under the Lyons relocations programme are relatively small (fewer than 150 posts). Given the small size of these units, posts have been relocated to existing regional accommodation and it is expected that, from an operational and financial viewpoint further units will be relocated using this rationale. Consequently there are no plans at the present time to move any of the Department's offices to Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Departmental Buildings

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was spent by his Department on renovation and refurbishment of its properties in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: My Department has spent the following on renovation and refurbishments over the last five years. The figures include VAT.
	
		
			million 
			 2002-03 1.6 
			 2003-04 3.1 
			 2004-05 (1)12.4 
			 2005-06 (2)21.6 
			 2006-07 1 
			 (1) Includes 10 million two roof spend (2) Includes 19 million two roof spend of which 3.4 million was programme spend

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff  (a) have applied to work flexible hours and  (b) work flexible hours (i) in his Department and (ii) in the executive agencies for which his Department is responsible.

Gareth Thomas: The Department does not centrally monitor the number of staff who have applied to and who work flexibly since flexible working patterns are agreed locally. However in the last annual staff survey 33 per cent. of respondents stated that they worked either formal (with timesheets) or informal flexitime arrangements. In addition, staff work a range of other flexible working patterns including compressed hours and homeworking as well as part-time and job-sharing.
	The Department introduced its flexible working policy in 2002, including full guidance for managers and staff to ensure that new ways of working are available to individuals in all directorates and grades and that the benefits to stakeholders, customers, managers and staff are maximised.
	Flexible working arrangements within executive agencies are a matter for the individual agency and the chief executives of Companies House and the Insolvency Service will write to the hon. member.

Departmental Opinion Polls

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what opinion polls his Department has conducted of  (a) the public and  (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case.

Patrick McFadden: The Department has conducted no opinion polls of all staff since 27 June 2007.

Departmental Stationery

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the Department of Trade and Industry spent on departmental branded stationery between 1 January and 27 June.

Gareth Thomas: Expenditure on DTI branded stationery between 1 January 2007 and 27 June 2007 through a central contract was 17,385 excluding VAT.

Electricity Generation

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications for electricity generation projects using  (a) tidal power,  (b) wave power,  (c) wind,  (d) biomass,  (e) hydro power,  (f) gas and  (g) coal are awaiting his consent under the Electricity Act 1989; and what the megawatt capacity is for each category.

Malcolm Wicks: The following numbers of applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 in respect of electricity generating projects using the specified energy sources are currently with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:
	
		
			   Applications  MW 
			  (a) Tidal power (1) (1) 
			  (b) Wave power 1 7 
			  (c) Wind power 12 2,580 
			  (d) Biomass 2 423 
			  (e) Hydro power (1) (1) 
			  (f) Gas 7 7,330 
			  (g) Coal 1 1,600 
			 (1) No applications

Export Credit Guarantees: Sustainable Development

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to make it a duty of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to promote sustainable development.

Malcolm Wicks: ECGD already operates to a set of business principles which include ensuring its activities take into account the Government's international policies, including those on sustainable development.
	When ECGD considers support for a project, it not only looks at the payment risks but also at the underlying quality of the project, including its environmental, social and human rights impacts.

Minimum Wage

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many extra staff will be employed in national minimum wage enforcement following recent budget uplift.

Patrick McFadden: In 2006 the Chancellor announced an additional 2.9 million a year for monitoring and enforcement of the minimum wage, undertaken on BERR's behalf by HMRC. By the end of this financial year HMRC will employ 20 more staff to support this activity.

Nuclear Power: Research

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department and its predecessor has spent on research into nuclear power in the UK in each financial year since 1997-98.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 November 2007
	BERR has interest in research into power from nuclear fission and DIUS now has interest in nuclear fusion.
	BERR expenditure (excluding spending by the research councils) on nuclear fission research is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 1997-98 1.0 
			 1998-99 1.6 
			 1999-2000 2.5 
			 2000-01 0.0 
			 2001-02 2.0 
			 2002-03 2.1 
			 2003-04 2.1 
			 2004-05 2.2 
			 2005-06 2.3 
			 2006-07 2.4 
		
	
	Expenditure by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on nuclear fission research is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 1997-98 0.04 
			 1998-99 0.08 
			 1999-2000 0.06 
			 2000-01 0.13 
			 2001-02 0.33 
			 2002-03 0.31 
			 2003-04 0.21 
			 2004-05 0.11 
			 2005-06 0.95 
			 2006-07 2.80 
		
	
	Responsibility for funding of nuclear fusion research was transferred from the DTI's Nuclear Industries Directorate to the Office of Science and Technology in April 2002, and then to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in April 2003. The amount of funding from 1997-98 until 2006-07 is given as follows.
	
		
			million 
			 1997-98 16.6 
			 1998-99 12.6 
			 1999-2000 14.3 
			 2000-01 17.0 
			 2001-02 14.4 
			 2002-03 14.8 
			 2003-04 15.9 
			 2004-05 22.7 
			 2005-06 20.6 
			 2006-07 25.7

Post Offices: Access

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance he has given the Post Office on the contents of the branch access report; what constitutes a sloping terrain; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 November 2007
	None. This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Tidal Power: Pembrokeshire

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with  (a) Lunar Energy and  (b) Eon on the construction of a tidal power generation project off the North Pembrokeshire coast.

Malcolm Wicks: My officials have had one meeting with representatives of Lunar Energy Ltd. and E.ON UK plc to discuss a proposal to develop a pre-commercial tidal energy project off the Pembrokeshire coast. Subsequent to that meeting, a request for a formal scoping opinion under Regulation 7 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 has been made by E.ON UK plc in respect of that project.

Wind Power

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what dates the Working Group on noise from wind farms, referred to in the answer of 5 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1085, on wind farms, has met; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Noise Working Group was convened to advise Government on the specific issue of aerodynamic modulation as raised in the Hayes Mackenzie report The measurement of Low Frequency Noise at three UK wind farms, and its objectives were to:
	Consider and agree, if thought appropriate, the main conclusions of the report
	Consider the report's findings relating to AM
	If appropriate, provide a means to assess and apply a correction where AM is predictable to be a clearly audible feature.
	Make clear recommendations to advise Government.
	The group met on three occasions: on 2 August 2006, 19 October 2006, and 23 April 2007. The minutes of these meetings can be found on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file35043.pdf
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file35595.pdf
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39560.pdf

World War II: Medals

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make Bevin Boys veterans' badges available to the  (a) widows and  (b) children of eligible men who have died.

Malcolm Wicks: As with other veteran badges the Bevin Boys Veterans Badge is a survivors badge and it is intended that it can be worn in public by Bevin Boys to raise awareness of the important role they played during World War II and in the post-war reconstruction of the UK. However, as it was anticipated that the application form would not be launched before October this year, some four months after the date the Badge was announced, we announced that applications would be accepted from the widows of Bevin Boys who died on or after 20 June 2007, when the Badge was announced, where a death and marriage certificate are attached to the application.
	We have no plans to extend the criteria further.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age was of patients admitted to accident and emergency units in the East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures for East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT) are not yet available. Data for this PCT will be published mid-December 2007.
	However, figures for the mean age of patients admitted via accident and emergency units are available for the former PCTs from 2005-06 and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  PCT  Mean a ge 
			 Eastbourne Downs PCT 56 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 55

Allergies

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is supporting into allergies; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: An account of the allergy research funded by the Department is given in the written memorandum of evidence we submitted to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry into allergy. The memorandum was published on 26 September 2007 as part of the Committee's report (HL Paper 166-11). Copies are available in the Library.
	Further information will be contained in the Government response to the Committee's report that will be published shortly.

Alzheimer's Disease: Medical Treatments

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of  (a) CAD16 and  (b) PBT 2 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not commission the clinical trails needed to generate estimates of the efficacy of specific compounds in specific diseases. Such trials are funded in competition by the Medical Research Council and the Health Technology Assessment Programme. No such work has been commissioned for CAD16 or PBT2 in Alzheimer's disease. In terms of the assessment of existing evidence of efficacy, this was completed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and no such review has been completed.

Ambulance Services: South East Coast Strategic Health Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 17 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1162W, on ambulance services: South East Coast Strategic Health Authority, if he will list the national publications in which the evidence referred to in the Answer is a theme; and if he will place copies of such publications in the Library.

Dawn Primarolo: As stated in the answer of 17 October, this is a matter for the local national health service. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of West Sussex Primary Care Trust to write to the hon. Member about this matter.

Basildon Hospital: Infectious Diseases

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) procedures and  (b) standards are required to be in place to deliver infection control in Basildon hospital; what mechanisms there are for monitoring the implementation of these procedures; and what assessment he has made of Basildon hospital's performance against these standards.

Ann Keen: holding answer 21 November 2007
	Basildon hospital is subject to the national standards that have been put in place in relation to healthcare associated infections.
	The Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections came into force on 1 October 2006. It requires national health service bodies to have appropriate management and clinical governance systems in place to deliver effective infection control. Compliance with the Code is assessed by the Healthcare Commission, which has the power to issue an 'improvement notice', to an NHS body that in its view is not properly observing it.
	This is the first Government to introduce mandatory surveillance of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs), beginning with methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias in April 2001. In January 2007, we introduced quarterly publication of mandatory data for MRSA and  C. difficile.
	Tackling HCAIs is a priority in the NHS operating framework. We have set a nationwide target, to halve the number of MRSA bloodstream infections by April 2008, and each Trust has its own local MRSA target. From April 2007, primary care trusts and trusts have been required to agree local targets to reduce significantly  C. difficile infections. Under the new Better Care for All public service agreement, we have set new requirements for the period to 2010-11, to maintain the current MRSA target (keep MRSA bloodstream infections below half the numbers in 2003-04), and to deliver a 30 per cent. reduction in  C. difficile infections compared with the numbers in 2007-08.
	We have introduced a wide range of measures to help support the NHS in tackling HCAIs. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement, given on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, column 49WS.
	In addition, the hon. Gentleman may find the Clean Safe Care website helpful www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk. This website provides a central hub for information and news on HCAIs, as well as providing a gateway to key tools and guidance.

Blood Transfusions

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of prion removal filters to ensure the safety of blood products for transfusion.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1298W.

Care Homes: Closures

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes have closed in  (a) Eastbourne,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Data on care home closures prior to 2002 are not held centrally. We are informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the numbers of homes de-registered in Eastbourne, East Sussex and England since 2002-03 were as shown in the table. De-registration includes not only homes permanently closed but also temporary closures, for example, while refurbishment takes place or while a new manager is appointed.
	
		
			  Number of de-registered care homes by year and by area 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1)  Total 
			 Eastbourne(2) 6 11 5 15 8 4 49 
			 East Sussex 50 45 30 44 50 13 232 
			 England 2,337 2,898 1,795 1,884 1,663 754 11,331 
			 (1) To 4 November 2007. (2) These figures may be slightly lower than the actual number of deregistrations in Eastbourne because of missing data.  Source: CSCI Registration and Inspection Database 2007 (data as at 4 November 2007).

Care Homes: Complaints

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the role and powers of the Commission for Social Care Inspection are in the investigation of individual complaints of poor  (a) practice and  (b) treatment in care homes.

Ivan Lewis: The current arrangements for handling complaints in social care are determined by the provisions of the Local Authority Social Services Complaints (England) Regulations 2006 and the Care Standards Act (CSA) 2000. Together, these define the respective statutory responsibilities of local authorities and regulated care providers in matters of complaint.
	The current framework for the regulation of provider care services was implemented in 2002, with the creation of the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). The CSA 2000 placed no statutory complaints duties upon the NCSC and did not provide any powers for their investigation. The legislation defined the role of the regulator as one of ensuring the compliance of providers with their statutory complaints responsibilities.
	As a regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has mandatory powers of compulsion under the CSA 2000 to ensure the compliance of care providers where a complaint indicates a breach under the Care Homes Regulations 2001 or the associated National Minimum Standards (NMS). In such instances, CSCI will issue requirements aimed at bringing the provider into compliance, and if necessary, will issue a statutory notice where the requirement has not been observed. Non-compliance with a statutory notice is an offence that can result in a cancellation of a provider's registration.
	CSCI can ensure that a breach of regulations identified by an individual complaint is acted upon through its compliance activity, to the benefit of all people using a regulated care service.
	In effect, CSCI uses its powers of inspection as the regulator to undertake proportionate inquiries into all information (including complaints) brought to its attention about regulated care services. CSCI considers that its focus is correctly upon provider compliance with service specific regulations and NMS, not interpersonal conflict resolution between complainant and provider, for which it has no statutory responsibilities.

Care Homes: Private Sector

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the protection of elderly people living in private care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government regard the abuse of vulnerable and older people in any setting as unacceptable in all its forms and are determined to root it out. We are addressing the issue in a variety of ways.
	We set out standards for care and treatment for the national health service and social care services via the National Service Frameworks for Older People and Mental Health and the White Paper, Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability.
	We introduced regulations and national minimum standards for care homes, domiciliary care agencies and adult placements. These are intended to ensure vulnerable and older people can live in a safe environment, where their rights and dignity are respected, staff are properly trained and care is of the requisite quality. The regulations and national minimum standards apply equally to all providers of care, whether in the private, voluntary or public sectors.
	We have created independent regulators, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Healthcare Commission, and given them the powers they need to take action against poorly performing providers or where abuse occurs. Ultimately, they have the power to close services down. All providers of care, including private care homes are legally required to register with and be inspected and regulated by CSCI.
	We expect local authorities to play their part. No Secrets, published by the Department in 2000 provides a complete definition of abuse and a framework for councils to work with the police, the national health service and regulators to tackle abuse and prevent it from occurring. On June 14 this year, I also announced a review of the No Secrets guidance. The case for legislation to protect vulnerable adults will be considered as part of the review.
	Local authorities have been given specific responsibilities. Statutory guidance issued in May 2006 required them to ensure that Directors of Adult Social Services maintain a clear organisational and operational focus on safeguarding vulnerable adults and that relevant statutory requirements and other national standards are met, including Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) requirements. Local authorities must make sure the Director of Adult Social Services has the powers and resources necessary to encourage a culture of vigilance against the possibility of adult abuse.
	We introduced the POVA Scheme in July 2004, under the provisions in Part 7 of the Care Standards Act 2000, which requires staff who provide personal care to older people in their own homes or in care homes to be subject to statutory checks, including checks of their criminal record. At the heart of the POVA scheme is the POVA list, which operates as a workforce ban and prevents dangerous or unscrupulous people from gaining access to older and vulnerable people in care homes or being cared for in their own homes. Only the employers in regulated social care services or the regulator, CSCI, can make referrals to the POVA list.
	The Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into force on 1 October 2007, introduces a new criminal offence of ill treatment or wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity.
	The Government support the work of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA). AEA has been awarded a Section 64 grant, totalling 360,000. This grant covers the three year period from 2007 to 2009 and is to help fund central administrative costs, which will include their freephone helpline for anyone concerned in any way about the abuse of older people.
	We are introducing a new centralised vetting and barring scheme for people working with children and vulnerable people. This scheme, as set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, will extend the coverage of existing barring schemes, such as POVA and draw on wider sources of information to provide a more comprehensive and consistent measure of protection for vulnerable groups across a wide range of settings, including the whole of social care and the NHS. The new scheme will make it far more difficult for abusers to gain access to some of the most vulnerable groups in society and will be a significant step forward.

Carers: Influenza

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in England received influenza vaccinations in 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: At the end of the 2006-07 flu campaign, 47,040 carers had received a flu vaccination from those general practitioners reporting data.

Carers: Influenza

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in England have received influenza vaccinations in 2007 to date.

Dawn Primarolo: By the end of October 2007, 34,731 carers received a flu vaccination from those general practitioners reporting data.

Carers: Influenza

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) publicity and  (b) other activities his Department is planning in order to increase the number of eligible carers being offered influenza vaccinations in 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of those eligible to receive their free flu vaccination this year was made available to all health professionals via the chief medical officer letter dated 30 March 2007 and also as part of the If you knew about Flu campaign leaflet. 2 million of these leaflets have been distributed as part of this year's campaign.

Carers: Influenza

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in England will be eligible for routinely-offered influenza vaccinations in accordance with the Chief Medical Officer's guidance letter.

Dawn Primarolo: Flu vaccine is given to carers at the discretion of their general practitioner (GP). Based on results from the national flu vaccine uptake survey, it is estimated that around 200,000 primary carers have so far been identified by GP practices in England.
	This figure is based on carers who are known to their GP and are recorded as a primary carer in their GP notes.

Clostridium: Eastern Region

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  clostridium difficile there were in  (a) Addenbrookes Hospital,  (b) West Suffolk Hospital and  (c) Ipswich Hospital in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007 to date.

Ann Keen: The mandatory surveillance system operated run by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) provides data on the number of reports of  clostridium difficile (C. difficile) associated disease. All acute national health service trusts in England are obliged to report all cases of blood stream infections processed by their laboratories and the system does not record when or how the infection was acquired. The current HPA C. difficile associated disease data are therefore published at trust level.
	Mandatory surveillance of C. difficile was introduced in 2004 for patients aged 65 and over to help assess the scale of the problem and concentrate attention on this infection. This has been extended to all patients aged two and over from April this year.
	The figures for patients aged 65 and over for the trusts covering Addenbrookes hospital (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), West Suffolk hospital (West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust) and Ipswich hospital (Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust) are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS Trust  Figures for C .  difficile associated disease 
			   2005  2006  January to June 2007 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 400 422 262 
			 West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust 442 378 194 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 347 483 283 
			  Source:  HPA data. 
		
	
	This information and any further information on the number of C. difficile infections for NHS Acute Trusts is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/Mandatory_ Results.htm

Dental Services: Dorset

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were in North Dorset in each year since 1997; and how many of them  (a) admitted new adult patients to their list and  (b) treated NHS patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years in each of those years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Numbers of national health service dentists at primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) level as at 31 March 1997 to 2006 are available in annex E of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. Information at parliamentary constituency level is available in annex G.
	Numbers of adult patients (aged 18 and over) registered with an NHS dentist at PCT and SHA level as at 31 March 1997 to 2006 are available in annex A of the aforementioned report. Information at parliamentary constituency level is available in annex C.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements. This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	The number of NHS dentists at PCT and SHA level as at 30 June, 30 September, 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in table E1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006.
	The inclusion of dentists on trust-led contracts in the data collection following the 2006 reforms means that data collected since April 2006 cannot be directly compared with data collected under the previous system.
	In both reports, the work force numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	Since April 2006, patients no longer have to be registered with a dental practice to receive NHS care and treatment. The closest equivalent current measure is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') in a given area over a 24-month period, for that area. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The number of adult patients (aged 18 and over) seen in the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in table C1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07 report. Information is available at PCT and SHA area in England.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607

Dental Services: Dorset

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) 18 to 65 and  (b) under 18-year-olds were registered for NHS dentist treatment in North Dorset in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: holding answer 20 November 2007
	The number of adult and child patients registered with a national health service dentist are available in annex A of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. This report is available in the Library.
	Information is available for strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) area, in England, 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006.
	This information is based on contractual arrangements prior to 31 March 2006.
	The report is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Since April 2006, patients no longer have to be registered with a dental practice to receive NHS care and treatment.
	The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') in a given area over a 24-month period, for that area. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The number of adult and child patients seen in the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in table C1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07 report. This report is available in the Library. Information is available for SHA and PCT areas in England.
	This report is also available online at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	The reports are published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Drugs: Misuse

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which classes of prescription and over-the-counter products are classified by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as having the greatest potential for patients to become physically dependent on or addicted to them.

Dawn Primarolo: Medicines which are known to have significant potential for physical dependence and addiction, and which may be abused or diverted, are designated as controlled drugs and come within the scope of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continuously monitors the safety of all medicines in the United Kingdom, including concerns about dependence and addiction, and, where necessary, takes suitable action to safeguard public health. The MHRA does not classify medicines by their potential for causing physical dependence or addiction.
	As new evidence comes to light, the MHRA seeks advice on safety issues from its independent scientific advisory groupthe Commission on Human Medicines. If action is needed, following an assessment of the risks and benefits of the medicine, then a number of regulatory options are available, including: withdrawal of a product from the market; and, amending the labelling and patient information leaflet.

Drugs: Misuse

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age of patients is in his Department's three-centre pilot into the use of diamorphine to treat heroin addiction; what the  (a) shortest,  (b) longest and  (c) average length of their heroin addiction was; what total length of time each had spent in prison before the programme began; what the average length of their sentences had been; how many court appearances each had had; on how many occasions each member of the pilot group had been admitted to hospital for (i) overdose through accident and emergency and (ii) for patient stays linked to their drug use; and what the estimated number of acquisitive crimes committed by this group was (A) in total and (B) on average before the pilot.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Addiction Centre is currently undertaking the Randomised Injectable Opiate Treatment Trial, which is examining injectable diamorphine, injectable methadone and oral methadone treatments in a randomised controlled trial.
	The trial, although supported by the Government, is an independent study following strict research governance protocols. The information requested will not therefore be available prior to the publication of the research findings.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the proposed Drug Treatment Agency allocation is for  (a) Bristol and  (b) north Somerset for each year covered by comprehensive spending review.

Dawn Primarolo: No decisions have been finalised about the pooled drug treatment budget allocations from April 2008 onwards.

East and West Kent NHS Hospitals Trust: Clostridium

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infection rates were for  Clostridium difficile in the East and West Kent NHS Hospitals Trust in each of the last three years; and on what basis these rates are calculated.

Ann Keen: holding answer 20 November2007
	The mandatory surveillance system operated by the Health Protection Agency provides data on the number of reports of  Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI). All acute national health service trusts in England are obliged to report all cases of CDI processed by their laboratories and the data is published at trust level.
	Mandatory surveillance of  Clostridium difficile was introduced in 2004 for patients aged 65 and over and has been extended to all patients aged two and over from April this year.
	The data provided in the following table are for the acute NHS trusts that fall within the Kent region. This information and any further information on the number of CDIs for NHS acute trusts is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/Mandatory_Results.htm
	
		
			  Number of reported cases of Clostridium difficile infections 
			   Patients 65 years 
			   January to December 2004  January to December 2005  January to December 2006 
			  Trust  Number of Clostridium difficile reports  Rate per 1,000 bed days  Number of Clostridium difficile reports  Rate per 1,000 bed days  Number of Clostridium difficile reports  Rate per 1,000 bed days 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 167 1.74 130 1.36 211 2.20 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 638 1.97 705 2.19 528 1.64 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 484 3.27 464 3.14 545 3.69 
			 Medway NHS Trust 246 2.29 251 2.34 225 2.10 
			  Note: Data are provisional.  Source: Health Protection Agency. 
		
	
	The numerator used is the number of  Clostridium difficile reports for each trust for each year (January to December).
	The denominator used is based on the total bed days for patients 65 years and over for January to December 2004 for each trust as derived from the Hospital Episode Statistics data.
	The number of bed days was calculated from the total length of consultant episodes for patients 65 years and over for that trust during the period. The number was adjusted to take account of the leap year in 2004.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust: Clostridium

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have  (a) contracted and  (b) died from  clostridium difficile at East Sussex NHS Trust hospitals in the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	The best available data on the number of reports of  Clostridium difficile infections are for patients aged 65 and over and come from the mandatory surveillance scheme run by the Health Protection Agency. The following table shows data for East Sussex Hospital NHS Trust from January 2004 to June 2007.
	
		
			   Number of C. difficile reports for patients aged 65 years and over 
			 January to December 2004 393 
			 January to December 2005 387 
			 January to December 2006 374 
			 January to June 2007 128 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agencyprovisional data. 
		
	
	It is not possible to identify where the infection was acquired.

Heart Diseases: Drugs

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the effectiveness of traditional coronary heart disease drugs on  (a) women and  (b) men; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Medicinal products licensed for treatment of coronary heart disease are assessed for safety, efficacy and quality, in both men and women. Post marketing surveillance continues the monitoring of safety signals after approval for use of these products in a wider population. Products currently approved for treatment of coronary heart disease are safe and effective in men and women when used in accordance with their approved prescribing recommendations.

Heart Diseases: West Midlands

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) angioplasty and  (b) revascularisation procedures were carried out in (i) Stoke, (ii) south Staffordshire, (iii) north Staffordshire, (iv) Telford and Wrekin and (v) Shropshire county primary care trusts in each year since 2003, broken down by type.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the table. The source of the data is the hospital episode statistics (HES) held by the information centre for health and social care (IC). The data are provided for five primary care trusts (PCTs), in their commissioning, rather than provider of treatment role.
	Historical information for new PCTs (i.e. pre 1 October 2006) has been calculated by the 1C based on information previously provided by predecessor organisations.
	Rather than grouping procedures under the headings 'angioplasty' and 'revascularisation' the 1C has provided a more detailed break-down of the operative procedures that sit under these headings so there is no confusion as to what has been included and counted. Angioplasty has been classed as those codes between K49-K50 and 'revascularisation' has been classed as those codes between K40-K46.
	
		
			Selected operative procedures  North Staffordshire PCT  Shropshire County PCT  South Staffordshire PCT  Stoke on Trent PCT  Telford and Wrekin PCT 
			 2003-04 K40 Saphenous vein graft replacement of coronary artery 87 170 233 107 71 
			  K41 Other autograft replacement of coronary artery * 15 14 15 12 
			  K43 Prosthetic replacement of coronary artery * 
			  K44 Other replacement of coronary artery  * 11 *  
			  K45 Connection of thoractic artery to coronary artery 83 160 231 106 70 
			  K49 Translumical balloon angioplasty of coronary artery 156 103 353 189 63 
			  K50 Other therapeutic transluminal operations/coronary artery * * * *  
			 
			 2004-05 K40 Saphenous vein graft replacement of coronary artery 143 155 273 151 85 
			  K41 Other autograft replacement of coronary artery 8 22 15 16 * 
			  K42 Allograft replacement of coronary artery*  
			  K43 Prosthetic replacement of coronary artery   *   
			  K44 Other replacement of coronary artery * * * * * 
			  K45 Connection of thoractic artery to coronary artery 126 153 259 139 75 
			  K49 Translumical balloon angioplasty of coronary artery 294 194 531 376 107 
			  K50 Other therapeutic transluminal operations/coronary artery * * * *  
			 
			 2005-06 K40 Saphenous vein graft replacement of Coronary Artery 93 142 259 127 68 
			  K41 Other autograft replacement of coronary artery  7 35  * 
			  K42 Allograft replacement of coronary artery   *   
			  K44 Other replacement of coronary artery * * * * * 
			  K45 Connection of thoractic artery to coronary artery 83 128 249 105 65 
			  K46 Other bypass of coronary artery   *   
			  K49 Translumical balloon angioplasty of coronary artery 233 163 541 279 119 
			  K50 Other therapeutic transluminal operations/coronary artery * * 15 * * 
			  Notes: All operations count of mentionsThese figures represent a count of all mentions of an operative procedure in any of the 12 (four prior to 2002-03) operative procedure fields in the HES data set. Therefore, if a operative procedure is mentioned in more than one operative procedure field during an episode, all operative procedure are counted. Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Episodes do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. Main operationThe main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation. Secondary procedureAs well as the main operative procedure, there are up to 11 (three prior to 2002-03) secondary operation fields in HES that show secondary or additional procedures performed on the patient during the episode of care. PCT and strategic health authority (SHA) data qualityPCT and SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) cleaning staff and  (b) cleaning service providers in (i) hospitals and (ii) health or social care institutions were subject to disciplinary or contractual proceedings in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 19 November 2007
	This information is not held centrally by the Department. Individual disciplinary and contractual proceedings against directly employed or contracted out cleaners are a matter for local health and social care organisations to manage as part of their everyday business. Employers can determine any sanction necessary, ranging from a warning up to and including dismissal. This has to be justified on the grounds of competence or conduct but subject to the provisions of the laws governing employment and equal opportunities. Any action against contracted out services will be subject to the terms of the contract in question.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) cases of and  (b) deaths from (i) MRSA, (ii) C-difficile and (iii) all hospital-acquired infections there were at Basildon hospital in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: holding answer 21 November 2007
	The information requested is not available. However, Basildon hospital is part of the Basildon and Thurrock university hospitals NHS foundation trust for which the following information is available on methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide resistant enterococci bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infection from the mandatory surveillance scheme run by the Health Protection Agency.
	
		
			  Number of cases of MRSA at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			  April to March each year  Number of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection reports 
			 2001-02 60 
			 2002-03 38 
			 2003-04 30 
			 2004-05 42 
			 2005-06 36 
			 2006-07 24 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agencyprovisional data 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of cases of C. difficile in Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS  F oundation  T rust 
			  January to December each year  Number of C. difficile reports for patients aged 65 years and over 
			 2004 410 
			 2005 470 
			 2006 545 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agencyprovisional data 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of cases of glycopeptide resistant enterococcal bloodstream infection reports in Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			  October to September each year  Number of glycopeptide resistant enterococcal bloodstream infection reports 
			 2003-04 3 
			 2004-05 6 
			 2005-06 6 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agencyprovisional data 
		
	
	We do not know how many of these cases are acquired in hospital.
	Figures on deaths involving MRSA or C. difficile in individual hospitals are not currently available. It is not possible to state how many deaths in a particular hospital were hospital-acquired as the place where an infection was acquired may not be known to the doctor certifying the death, and a question asking where infections were acquired is not specifically asked on the death certificate.

Hospitals: Inspections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the findings of the 2007 inspections of the patient environment action team inspections.

Ann Keen: holding answer 21 November 2007
	The results of the 2007 Patient Environment Action Team programme were published on 21 November 2007.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what programmes of work undertaken by his Department since 1 March 2005 have related to the prioritisation of treatment in the event of an influenza pandemic;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the World Health Organisation on the subject of pandemic preparedness since January 2007; whether any of these discussions related to the prioritisation of treatment in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: A number of activities have taken place by the Department to address the issues around prioritisation. This includes prioritisation of some limited medicine stockpiles such as the existing stockpile of A/H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine to specific groups, and (draftfor public discussion) guidance on the prioritisation of essential services and treatments above non-essential careif this was required.
	Issues around prioritisation are also addressed in the ethical frameworkwhere it is recognised that there will be individual challenges as well as service challengesand through the public engagement strategy where we are engaging the public in discussion on such issues.
	The Department has had numerous discussions with the World Health Organisation about pandemic influenza preparedness. These discussions have taken place at the following meetings:
	April 2007: WHO meeting on increasing H5N1 stockpiles and increasing the access of developing countries to pandemic influenza vaccines.
	May 2007: World Health Assembly meeting on virus sharing and intellectual property
	June 2007: Presentation on ethical issues in pandemic influenza planning.
	The WHO meeting held in June 2007 addressed ethical issues in general and also featured a presentation on work done by the WHO at its meeting in October 2006; that meeting had discussed prioritisation issues. It recognised the ethical dilemma's countries were dealing with and observed that ethics could not provide set answers. The full summary of the discussions in is available at:
	www.who.int/ethics/influenza_project/en/index.html

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to  (a) suspend national NHS targets and  (b) order the suspension of local NHS targets in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Dawn Primarolo: The operating framework sets down the priorities for the national health service, including exceptional circumstances which strategic health authorities (SHAs) should take into account before deciding whether to suspend national or local NHS targets.
	The Department has also issued an ethical framework for responding to an influenza pandemic, which provides principles that will guide the NHS in implementing the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic and in taking decisions about 'normal business' such as implementing the operating framework.
	In the event of an influenza pandemic, the decision about whether to suspend these targets is one which will be taken by the NHS in light of the prevailing situation.

Influenza: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the take-up of influenza vaccine by pensioners living in Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Flu vaccine uptake data was collected for the first time on those aged 65 and over from 2000. Information is collected by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority. Information is not collected by constituency.
	The percentage of those aged 65 and over who received a flu vaccine in Eastbourne in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove in 2000-01 and 2001-02 and Eastbourne Downs PCT since 2002-03 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Vaccination uptake among the 65 years and over for Eastbourne by  year ,  2000 - 06 
			  South  E ast  Geography  Total persons aged 65 and over from returning practices  Total persons aged 65+ vaccinated  Total percentage uptake 
			 2000-01 Eastbourne in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 151,731 101,616 67.0 
			 2001-02 Eastbourne in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 148,284 104,813 70.7 
			 2002-03 Eastbourne Downs PCT (in Surrey and Sussex HA) 42,352 30,332 72 
			 2003-04 Eastbourne Downs PCT (in Surrey and Sussex HA) 42,414 32,409 76.4 
			 2004-05 Eastbourne Downs PCT (in Surrey and Sussex HA) 43,568 30,842 71 
			 2005-06 Eastbourne Downs PCT (in Surrey and Sussex HA) 39,530 29,694 75.1 
			 2006-07 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 73,249 53,878 73.6 
			 Total  541,128 383,584 71 
			  Note:  Uptake figures include only those practices who have returned forms.  Source:  Influenza Immunisation Uptake Monitoring Programme Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	
		
			  The change in geography reflected in the total returns by PCT mapped to areas 
			  Area  HA/PCT 
			 South East Surrey and Sussex HA 
			 Berkshire Bexhill and Rother PCT 
			 Buckinghamshire East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey PCT 
			 East Kent East Surrey PCT 
			 East Surrey Hastings and St. Leonards PCT 
			 East Sussex, Brighton/Hove Mid Sussex PCT 
			 North and Mid Hants Brighton and Hove City PCT 
			 Northamptonshire Eastbourne Downs PCT 
			 Oxfordshire Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hants Guildford and Waverley PCT 
			 Southampton and South West Hants North Surrey PCT 
			 West Kent Woking Area PCT 
			 West Surrey Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT 
			 West Sussex Crawley PCT 
			  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT 
			  Western Sussex PCT

Influenza: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the seasonal influenza immunisation programme.

Dawn Primarolo: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which provides independent expert advice on vaccination issues to the Department and Ministers, keeps all vaccination programmes including the seasonal flu vaccination programme under review.
	This includes the review of the uptake achieved in the target groups of those aged 65 years and over, and in the risk groups under 65 years.

Lung Diseases: Research

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been committed by his Department for research into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department funds national health service research and development through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The Institute's research programmes support high quality research of relevance and in areas of high priority to patients and the NHS. That research currently includes three trials on aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) funded by the Health Technology Assessment programme at a total cost of 2 million, and a 237,000 COPD project in the Research for Patient Benefit programme. Respiratory disease has additionally been identified as a research priority in the call for proposals for new Biomedical Research Units the NIHR published in July 2007.
	The Department's Policy Research Programme has commissioned a systematic review to support the development of the COPD National Service Framework.
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects including a substantial number concerned with COPD are available on the national research register at:
	www.nrr.nhs.uk.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. The MRC's current commitment to COPD research includes some ten separate research projects; funding for a new MRC Centre for COPD Research at Imperial College, London; and support for a long-term research programme at the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre on genetic and early environmental determinants of chronic obstructive lung disease.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: Clostridium

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the five non-executive directors who resigned from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Hospitals Trust as a result of the  clostridium difficile outbreak were in post when the outbreak occurred; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 20 November 2007
	South East Coast Strategic Health Authority has advised my officials that three non-executive directors have resigned from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Hospitals. As stated in the press release from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust published on 12 November 2007, one joined in June 2006, one in July 2006 and the third in September 2006, and although in post when the Healthcare Commission Report was sent to the Trust, they were not in post during the  clostridium difficile outbreaks.
	The non-executives who are near the end of their four year term will leave the trust at the end of November.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: Pay

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the strategic health authority was consulted about the proposed compensation payment to the outgoing chief executive of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Hospitals Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 20 November 2007
	I understand that discussions about the compensation payment were held between South East Coast Strategic Health Authority and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. However, the decision about proposed compensation payment was taken by the Trust.

Nurses: Foreign Workers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-EU/EEA nurses have been hired by the NHS in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	The nursing and midwifery council collects information on the number of nurses who register with them from overseas each year. It does not collect data on whether these nurses entered the United Kingdom, returned to their own country or worked in the national health service.
	This information is available at:
	www.nmc-uk.org/aSection.aspx?SectionID=5

Prescriptions

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to general practitioners on issuing prescriptions for more than three months' supply of medication in circumstances where the patient will be out of the country.

Dawn Primarolo: Under the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004, where a person for whose treatment a doctor is responsible leaves the United Kingdom with the intention of being away for a period of at least three months, that person should be removed from the doctor's list from the date of departure and as a consequence, ceases to be eligible for national health service treatment. The Department has not issued specific guidance on the issuing of prescriptions in these circumstances.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust: Midwives

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were employed by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 19 November 2007
	The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: qualified midwifery staff in the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 84 83 80 74 76 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical workforce Census.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Sponsorship

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for which academies sponsorship monies are overdue for payment; who the sponsor is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 376-70W.

Antisocial Behaviour

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the role of the Youth Taskforce will be in tackling antisocial behaviour committed by adults.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office has responsibility for policy on antisocial behaviour, crime and disorder. Work across Government, including the Department of Children Schools and Families, contributes to the Government's strategy to tackle antisocial behaviour and its causes.
	The Youth Taskforce, announced on 5 October, will support local delivery of the Government's strategy on antisocial behaviour, with a particular focus on promoting earlier intervention and support to young people. It will publish an action plan in spring 2008.

Assessments: Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his estimate is of the cost of holding national tests at Key Stage  (a) 1,  (b) 2 and  (c) 3 in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the delivery of national curriculum tests. QCA's estimate of the cost of delivering the national curriculum tests for Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 in 2007/08 is 50,570,000. QCA's records do not support the split of this information between the various key stages.

Children in Care

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many young people in the care of each local authority gained a place at  (a) university and  (b) another higher education institution in 2007;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of children in the care of a local authority who have access to  (a) a trained counsellor and  (b) mentor in each local authority area;
	(3)  how many young people in the care of a local authority were not in employment, education or training in each local authority area, in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many children or young people in the care of a local authority had a statement of special educational needs in each local authority area, in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of young people in the care of each local authority that gained a place at  (a) university and  (b) another higher education institution in 2007, as well as the number of young people in the care of a local authority who have access to  (a) a trained counsellor and  (b) mentor in each local authority area is not collected centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). However, information at national level on the number of children that are now aged 19 who were looked after on 1 April 2004 but have since left care and are engaged in higher educational studies (i.e. studies beyond A level) is shown in the Statistical First Release 27/2007 (entitled Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007), via table G1 at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml. The figures at local authority level will be released on 29 November 2007 at the same website.
	Information on the number young people in the care of a local authority that were not in employment, education or training in each local authority area and the number of children or young people in the care of a local authority that had a statement of special educational needs in each local authority area can be found in tables 6 and 1, respectively on the Department's website at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000727/index.shtml. This Statistical First Release (17/2007Outcome Indicators for Looked After Children: Twelve Months to 30 September 2006, England) contains information on children and young people in England who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September.
	Information on the activity of children that were aged 19 years during the year ending 31 March 2006 who were looked after at 1 April 2003, including whether they were in education, employment or training, is available from table 21 of the publication available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000721/index.shtml entitled Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2006.

Children in Care: Offenders

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children or young people in the care of a local authority were  (a) in receipt of an antisocial behaviour order,  (b) serving a suspended sentence and  (c) serving a prison sentence on the latest date for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of children looked after by local authorities within England who were  (a) in receipt of an antisocial behaviour order, and  (b) serving a suspended sentence is not collected centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
	The number of children looked after by local authorities within England who were placed in a young offenders' institution or prison at 31 March 2007 was 160. 20 of these children were on remand or committed for trial.

Children: Day Care

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the time it will take to provide a place in a childcare scheme for each lone parent who requires one.

Beverley Hughes: Local authorities are currently completing assessments of the sufficiency of childcare in their areas, as required by the Childcare Act 2006, identifying demand for childcareincluding from lone parentstogether with available supply and any gaps between the two. From April 2008, local authorities will have a new duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, childcare places for all working parents, or parents undertaking education or training in preparation for work. Jobcentre Plus childcare partnership managers will continue to work with the Children's Information Services provided by local authorities so that lone parents who require childcare to enable them to take up employment are able to find appropriate places.

Children: Learning Disability

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps the Government has taken to assist parents of children with learning difficulties since 1997;
	(2)  what steps the Government has taken to widen opportunities in education for children with learning difficulties since 1997.

Jim Cunningham: holding answer 19 November 2007
	In 1997 the Government published their Green Paper Excellence for all children: Meeting Special Educational Needs which set out policies for working with parents and improving provision to meet children's special educational needs (SEN). In 1998 the Government set out a programme of action to implement the policies in the Green Paper over the following three years and in 2001 passed the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act and published a revised SEN Code of Practice. The Act strengthened the right of parents of children with SEN to have their children educated in mainstream schools if that is what they wanted; it laid duties on schools and local authorities not to discriminate against children with disabilities, including those with learning disabilities, to make reasonable adjustments to prevent such discrimination, and to plan to increase access to schools and the curriculum; and the Act obliged each local authority to have a parent partnership service for the parents of children with SEN in order to offer factual and unbiased advice on SEN provision and procedures.
	Since 2004, through a range of initiatives, the Government have been implementing their SEN strategy Removing Barriers to Achievement which promoted earlier intervention, improvements to mainstream SEN provision so that a wider group of children can have their needs met effectively in mainstream schools, an enhanced role for special schools providing for children with severe and complex needs and working with mainstream schools to help other children with SEN reach their potential, improved SEN training for prospective and qualified teachers and improved partnership working between agencies to meet children's needs. In the past eight years, spending by local authorities on provision for children with SEN has risen from 2.8 billion in 2000-01 (the first year in which this figure was collected separately) to 4.9 billion in 2007-08.
	Complementing the initiatives under these programmes and strategies, others have focused on disabled, including learning disabled, children and their parents. For example, the Early Support programme has promoted joint agency approaches to earlier identification and key workers to work with families to negotiate access to services and offer support. Early Support has also produced a range of support resources for parents. The programme is now being rolled out nationally.
	Finally, Aiming High for Disabled Children (May 2007) announced 340 million of investment, including 280 million to improve the provision of short breaks for the families of disabled children, 5 million to encourage parents' participation in influencing the design and delivery of services and 19 million for a Transition Support Programme to help young people realise their ambitions in their transition to adult life.

Children: Protection

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information each local authority will be required to supply in order to comply with performance indicator 71 of the new indicator set for local authorities; what the reporting intervals will be against the indicator; what mechanism will be used to assess the performance of individual authorities; and what steps will be taken to address underperforming authorities.

Kevin Brennan: The indicator on children who have run away from home/care overnight will be measured from 2009-10. This will give us time to identify robust data collection methodologies. We are considering a number of different options to gather data on young runaways in connection with the new indicator, working closely with the other Government Departments, the police, local authorities and expert charitable organisations such as the Children's Society.
	All top tier local authorities and their strategic partners will have to report back at least annually on their performance against all 198 cross-Government indicators in the new national set, which was published on 11 October 2007.
	In addition, each area will agree with Government up to 35 improvement targetsplus the 16 statutory education and early years targetsdrawn from indicators in the national set. Local areas may also set themselves an unlimited number of local targets which will not be subject to central performance monitoring and which need not be drawn from the national indicator set.
	From 2009 performance against all 198 national indicators will be published each year by the Audit Commission, as part of the inspectorates' comprehensive area assessment of local authorities. This will also report on each local authority's direction of travel and use of resources and will assess risks in the area.

Children's Centres: Finance

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Kent county council on the ring-fencing of funding for Sure Starts and family centres;
	(2)  whether Kent county council is able to alter the funding arrangements for  (a) existing and  (b) future Sure Starts or family centres under the procedures for which his Department is responsible;
	(3)  whether the existing funding for Sure Start and family centre schemes in Kent is ring-fenced.

Beverley Hughes: The Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant (formerly the General Sure Start Grant) which my Department pays to all local authorities includes ringfenced revenue funding for Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs), including those that have since been designated as Sure Start Children's Centres. Kent county council, like all local authorities receiving this ringfenced funding, has freedom to determine the level of resource for each individual SSLP in its area from within its overall ring-fenced allocation for SSLPs to ensure the core children's centre services remain available to families in the area. My officials wrote to local authorities in August this year giving revenue allocations for children's centres and SSLPs for the next three financial years. The letter explained that the ringfenced funding must be used for
	services in SSLPs, and centres based on SSLPs, and cannot be used for new children's centres.
	I discussed funding levels for SSLPs with Kent county council and the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in July in advance of these allocations being made.
	The Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant also includes separate funding for existing and new children's centres to be developed by 2010. Kent county council is responsible, like all local authorities, for allocating resources to those children's centres not based on SSLPs to enable them to deliver mainstream children's services to meet local needs. We issued guidance earlier this month to support local authorities in allocating resources effectively Sure Start Children's Centres : Planning and Delivering Phase 3 which is available on the Sure Start website
	www.surestart.gov.uk.

Departmental Stationary

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much letterheaded notepaper his Department has bought which is headed with both the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and Department for Children, Schools and Families headers; and at what cost.

Kevin Brennan: The number of letter headed note paper purchased for both Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families was 62 sheets and the total spend was 32 for the period 28 June 2007 to 20 November 2007.

Dyslexia

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of schools in identifying dyslexia.

Jim Knight: All local authorities, schools, and early years settings must have regard to the special educational needs code of practice which provides advice on carrying out statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for pupils' special educational needs. Children with dyslexia should therefore have their needs identified and support put in place to meet those needs in the same way as children with any other type of special educational need (SEN).
	To help those working in schools to develop confidence in identifying and supporting children with dyslexia, we announced on 17 October the launch of the Inclusion Development Programme, which will offer professional development in key areas of SEN starting with training on communication difficulties, including dyslexia. The Inclusion Development Programme materials are being developed in close consultation with dyslexia organisations.
	To identify and disseminate best practice in improving outcomes for children with dyslexia, we are working with the British Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Action, Xtraordinary People and the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties on the No to Failure Project. This project is supporting schools in three local authority areas to become project trailblazers, where children are being screened for dyslexia and individual specialist tuition is then provided to those who are identified as having dyslexia. The impact of this approach on outcomes is being evaluated. The project is also evaluating the impact of providing specialist dyslexia training for teachers, developing examples of good practice which can be extended nationally, and raising awareness of dyslexia as a learning difficulty. We are providing up to 900,000 funding over three years to support this project.

Early Years Framework

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with the Steiner Foundation on the Early Years Framework.

Beverley Hughes: The Steiner Waldorf Schools Association responded to our formal consultation on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) last year. Since then officials have had extensive discussions with representatives from the Steiner Waldorf Schools Association on how the EYFS can support Steiner early childhood best practice. They have also held a conference attended by representatives of most of the Steiner kindergartens at which they explained the Early Years Foundation Stage, listened to the concerns of those present and discussed how the aims of EYFS sit alongside those of the Steiner educational philosophy. The EYFS is a broad framework which does not prescribe any particular teaching approach and as such it has the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of philosophies and practices.

Foster Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what work Ofsted has undertaken in relation to the effectiveness of the collection by local authorities of information on private fostering in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 12 November 2007
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 19 November 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	In April 2006 the Commission for Social Care Inspection started a three-year programme of inspections of the way in which local authorities discharge their duties and functions in relation to private fostering. The new Ofsted assumed responsibility for this programme in April 2007 and is continuing to carry out these inspections.
	CSCI collated the findings of the 50 inspections of private fostering arrangements which took place in the first year of inspection, from April 2006-March 2007. Ofsted will continue to produce collated findings, with the next review to be published after March 2008.
	All councils have strategies in place to identify and meet the needs of privately fostered children. However, they are very variable in quality and councils are at very different stages in their implementation. Although the size and demography of councils will determine the likely incidence of private fostering, the figures set out below highlight the range of performance at the time of the inspections. The Office for National Statistics figures show that at 31 March 2007 there were 1,250 privately fostered children. British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) have estimated that there could be between 7,000 and 10,000 privately fostered children in England. All councils still face a significant challenge in implementing these arrangements.
	i. 5 councils (10%) had comprehensive strategies and arrangements to identify and meet the needs of privately fostered children. They knew of over twenty privately fostered children in their areas and had taken appropriate action in relation to them. They recognised that there were other privately fostered children that they had yet to identify.
	ii. 7 councils (14%) had made significant progress in implementing their strategies, and this has had some impact on notifications. All these councils knew of at least ten privately fostered children.
	iii. In 27 councils (54%), there had not been a significant increase in notifications, with between 2 and 9 privately fostered children known in each of these areas. These councils will need to give priority to private fostering if they are to implement their plans effectively over the next year.
	iv. 6 councils (12%) did not know of any privately fostered children in their areas and 5 councils (10%) knew of only 1. These councils need to give high priority to private fostering.
	The best councils have improved the effectiveness of their private fostering arrangements by:
	developing comprehensive strategies for identifying and meeting the needs of privately fostered children
	involving all agencies through the children's trust arrangements and the Local Safeguarding Children Board, particularly universal services
	identifying a senior officer to be responsible for this area of work
	establishing and publicised clear notification, assessment and approval processes designed to assess private foster carers' suitability to meet children's needs
	developing publicity and information to inform families, children and the public at large about private fostering
	All Local Safeguarding Children Boards are responsible for monitoring arrangements for ensuring the safety of privately fostered children. Joint Area Reviews, a cross-inspectorate programme to review children's services in an area, always consider safeguarding as a core investigation. As part of this they report on how well private foster carers are identified, monitored and supported in developing and maintaining positive relationships with their children. This allows inspectors to examine whether or not procedures are in place, and how effective they are in identifying privately fostered children in an area. The findings from Joint Area Reviews mirror the findings outlined above. Most councils have developed procedures and have produced information to raise awareness in partner agencies and the public at large. However the impact of this in identifying privately fostered children has been slow.
	Inspections therefore have shown that local councils have been slow to implement private fostering arrangements. Greater progress is needed in ensuring that private fostering arrangements have been effectively implemented and safeguards for these potentially vulnerable children have been improved.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained secondary schools did not have specialist status as at 1 October 2007; what the average level of free school meal eligibility of those schools was; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the table and represents the situation as at January 2007.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools( 1) : school meal arrangements by specialist status( 2) , as at January 2007, England 
			   Maintained secondary schools 
			   Schools with specialist status  Other schools  Total maintained secondary schools 
			 Number of schools 2,606 737 3,343 
			 
			 Number of pupils 2,782,090 490,390 3,272,480 
			 Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 344,870 84,830 429,700 
			 Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 12.4 17.3 13.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes pupils with sole and dual main registration.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census.

GCE A-level

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in each school in Southend took A-levels in each of the last two years for which information is available, broken down by subject.

Jim Knight: The information required is listed in the following tables.
	The data for 2006/07 are not published and so figures for 2004/05 and 2005/06 have been provided. The data for 2006/07 will be published in mid January 2008 once schools have had the opportunity to amend their results as part of the data checking process.
	
		
			  Number of pupils in schools/colleges in Southend taking GCE A levels by subject, 2005-06 
			   2006 
			  School/college name  Biological sciences  Chemistry  Physics  Other science  Mathematics  Further mathematics  Design and technology  Computer studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 2 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 35 41 23 4 42 7 0 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 42 45 17 0 48 7 10 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 25 24 8 0 16 2 16 0 
			 Belfairs High School 4 3 2 0 3 2 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 12 20 16 0 15 1 12 13 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 14 3 5 6 19 4 9 7 
			 Cecil Jones College 3 0 4 0 3 0 0 3 
			 St Bernard's High School and Arts College 15 11 2 0 3 0 13 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 3 3 3 0 5 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  School/College name  ICT  Accounting and Finance  Business Studies  Economics  Geography  Government and politics  History  Law 
			 Shoeburyness High School 2 0 0 3 3 0 4 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 4 0 0 32 16 8 31 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westcliffe High School for Girls 23 0 6 0 21 18 24 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 9 0 27 0 24 25 25 0 
			 Belfairs High School 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 0 0 19 8 18 19 34 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 0 0 0 5 21 0 12 14 
			 Cecil Jones College 0 0 0 5 3 0 7 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 0 0 8 0 3 0 10 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 10 5 16 0 3 0 9 21 
		
	
	
		
			  School/college name  Psychology  Sociology  Other social studies  Art and design  Drama  English  Media/film/  television studies  Other communication studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 6 9 0 5 17 15 8 6 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 27 0 0 6 0 39 0 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 6 0 0 14 0 0 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 33 0 0 14 10 51 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 10 21 1 12 0 46 12 0 
			 Belfairs High School 4 0 0 9 0 5 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 12 0 0 8 12 42 0 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 15 1 0 9 0 14 11 0 
			 Cecil Jones College 3 9 0 9 5 13 0 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 21 13 0 12 0 23 10 5 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 28 19 3 26 0 43 21 16 
		
	
	
		
			  School/college name  French  German  Spanish  Other modern languages  Religious studies  Music  Physical education  General studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 1 0 0 0 0 7 6 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 9 7 0 0 5 5 14 112 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 8 4 0 0 22 8 0 4 
			 Southend High school for Girls 9 5 0 2 10 5 0 109 
			 Belfairs High School 0 0 0 0 4 12 1 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 16 5 4 0 18 8 7 102 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 3 0 1 0 4 1 3 62 
			 Cecil Jones College 4 0 0 1 6 0 2 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 2 3 0 3 24 3 7 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 22 
		
	
	
		
			   2005 
			  School/college name  Biological sciences  Chemistry  Physics  Other science  Mathematics  Further mathematics  Design and technology  Computer studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 3 2 2 0 2 0 6 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 21 30 19 6 43 5 0 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 33 35 21 0 43 6 24 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 37 23 11 0 21 4 8 0 
			 Belfairs High School 5 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 10 21 28 0 27 0 11 13 
			 St Thomas More High School for Boys 18 1 9 0 17 0 2 6 
			 Cecil Jones College 5 4 3 0 4 1 2 0 
			 St Bernard's High School and Arts College 8 4 1 0 2 0 5 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 7 6 5 0 13 0 3 0 
		
	
	
		
			   200 5 
			  School/College name  ICT  Accounting and Finance  Business Studies  Economics  Geography  Government and politics  History  Law 
			 Shoeburyness High School 5 0 0 4 4 0 4 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 7 0 0 36 32 9 35 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 
			 Westcliffe High School for Girls 25 0 7 8 10 21 30 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 9 0 27 0 31 13 25 0 
			 Belfairs High School 1 0 0 0 4 0 3 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 0 0 16 21 23 23 38 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 0 0 0 9 31 0 18 4 
			 Cecil Jones College 0 0 5 0 3 0 5 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 12 4 13 0 13 0 8 24 
		
	
	
		
			  School/college name  Psychology  Sociology  Other social studies  Art and design  Drama  English  Media/film/  television studies  Other communication studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 3 5 0 13 8 12 3 7 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 17 0 0 8 0 30 0 0 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 2 0 0 13 5 0 2 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 41 0 0 25 16 46 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Girls 18 13 0 9 0 43 14 0 
			 Belfairs High School 6 0 0 14 0 7 0 0 
			 Southend High School for Boys 0 0 0 12 8 28 0 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 21 0 0 8 0 25 9 0 
			 Cecil Jones College 3 9 0 5 1 8 1 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 20 11 0 5 0 11 13 3 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 21 22 2 35 0 40 18 30 
		
	
	
		
			  School/college name  French  German  Spanish  Other modern languages  Religious studies  Music  Physical education  General studies 
			 Shoeburyness High School 0 0 0 0 0 10 7 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Boys 12 4 0 1 7 1 19 108 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westcliff High School for Girls 4 5 0 0 27 2 4 12 
			 Southend High school for Girls 14 5 0 1 8 7 0 110 
			 Belfairs High School 0 0 0 0 5 19 5 1 
			 Southend High School for Boys 13 1 0 0 9 6 0 102 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 1 0 0 3 5 0 5 78 
			 Cecil Jones College 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 1 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 39 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of pupils in Schools/Colleges in Southend taking VCE A levels by subject 
			   2006 
			   Applied art and design  Applied business  Applied engineering  Applied ICT  Media  Performing arts  Travel and tourism 
			 Shoeburyness High School 0 11 0 0 0 0 7 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 
			 Belfairs High School 0 2 6 8 11 2 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 0 0 0 5 4 0 0 
			 Cecil Jones College 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 1 7 0 15 12 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			   2005 
			   Applied art and design  Applied business  Health and social care  Applied  e ngineering  Applied ICT  Media  Retail and distribution  Performing arts  Travel and tourism 
			 Shoeburyness High School 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 The Eastwood School (11-18) 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Belfairs High School 0 2 12 9 6 10 0 3 0 
			 St. Thomas More High School for Boys 0 0 0 0 9 4 0 0 0 
			 Cecil Jones College 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 St. Bernard's High School and Arts College 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South East Essex College of Arts and Technology 0 7 0 0 7 12 8 0 1

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Chemistry

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students took GCSE examinations in chemistry in  (a) 1990,  (b) 1995,  (c) 2000,  (d) 2005 and  (e) 2007 to date; and how many gained A to C grades in the same years.

Jim Knight: The information required is in the table as follows:
	
		
			   Number of pupils entered for GCSE Chemistry  Percentage pupils entered for GCSE Chemistry  Number achieving grades A*-C  Percentage achieving grades A*-C 
			 2007 50,635 7.7 46,225 91.3 
			 2005 45,144 7.1 41,102 91.0 
			 2000 37,699 6.5 33,904 89.9 
			 1995 33,598 5.8 29,397 87.5 
			  Note: Data for 1990 are not available 
		
	
	Figures from 2006/07 are provisional. Schools will get the opportunity to amend their results as part of the data checking process before the revised figures are published in January 2008.
	Figures relate to the achievements of pupils who were 15-years-old at the start of the school year, i.e. 31 August.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Gender

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the gap between girls' and boys' performance in GCSE examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, column 870W.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs  (a) in all subjects and  (b) including mathematics and English in (i) each local authority area and (ii) England in each year from 1997-98 to 2006-07; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent expected figures in 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The relevant figures are provided in the time series which have been placed in the Library.
	We cannot provide an expected figure for 2007-08.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils  (a) from each ethnic group,  (b) entitled to free school meals and  (c) with English as a second language achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C in each year from 1997 to 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available data are shown in the following tables. Data prior to 2002 are not available and 2007 data will not be available until 27 November. They will be published on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000759/index.shtml
	
		
			  Achievements at GCSE and equivalents, 2002-06 by ethnicity and gender 
			5+ A*-C  5+ A*-C inc E and M  Any passes 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2005  2006  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Boys  
			   White 44.3 46.2 47.4 50.3 53.0 39.0 40.5 932 93.7 95.5 96.2 96.8 
			  White British  46.1 47.3 50.2 52.9 38 9 40.4  93.8 95.6 96.2 96.8 
			  Irish  58.4 54.0 59.4 57.2 47.2 46.3  95.1 95.6 96.0 95.7 
			  Traveller of Irish Heritage  43.3 23.3 22.9 14.0 22.9 7.0  82.5 76.7 60.4 71.9 
			  Gypsy/Roma  24.4 150 7.9 9.3 6.3 2.3  78.9 74.0 74.6 77.9 
			  Any other white background  46.3 49.3 54.2 55.0 42.1 42.4  90.3 93.5 96.7 96.9 
			   Mixed  42.7 44.8 490 50.7 37.3 38.7  92.4 94.1 95.4 96.5 
			  White and Black Caribbean  32.3 34.1 37.6 39.9 25.8 27.5  92.4 92.9 94.3 95.5 
			  White and Black African  39.5 43.5 48.4 51.8 35.0 38.7  90.5 93.1 96.0 97.0 
			  White and Asian  60.6 61.4 64.2 65.6 53.6 56.1  95.9 96.2 96.9 97.8 
			  Any other mixed background  44.9 47.1 52.6 54.0 40.8 41.3  91.1 94.4 95.5 96.6 
			   Asian  47.1 49.4 53.4 55.5 39.8 41.4  95.5 96.8 98.1 97.9 
			  Indian 56.9 60.3 61.6 64.8 67.1 52.4 54.3 97.1 97.3 98.0 98.9 98.9 
			  Pakistani 32.6 35.7 38.8 43.2 45.4 28.8 30.6 93.4 94.3 96.4 97.5 97.6 
			  Bangladeshi 38.0 38.5 41.0 46.7 50.9 31.0 35.4 92.2 94.6 96.5 97.5 97.6 
			  Any other Asian background  53.8 54.8 59.0 57.8 46.6 43.7  94.1 94.6 98.2 96.4 
			   Black  29.1 31.9 37.7 41.0 25.2 27.4  91.6 94.1 96.6 96.8 
			  Black Caribbean 21.9 25.1 27.3 33.3 36.5 21.2 22.7 90.3 91.6 94.2 95.7 96.3 
			  Black African 31.0 34.1 37.3 42.9 45.2 29.7 31.7 90.2 91.9 94.3 978 97.4 
			  Any other black background 27.6 27.2 29.8 33.7 39.4 22.2 25.0 89.2 91.1 93.1 95.3 95.8 
			   Chinese 66.8 70.9 69.5 77.1 75.5 62.8 59.7 93.9 95.3 95.4 98.7 99.2 
			   Any other ethnic group 40.0 41,3 430 49.3 51.0 36.3 37.3 89.4 88.5 91.5 96.5 96.2 
			   Unclassified 45.1 43.1 42.7 44.8 47.5 34.0 35.8 91.7 91.4 93.9 95.3 95.3 
			   All pupils 43.7 45.5 46.8 49.9 52.6 38.4 39.9 93.1 93.5 95.4 96.3 96.8 
			   
			  Girls  
			   White 55.0 56.7 57.4 60.2 62.3 47.1 48.5 95.1 95.7 96.9 97.4 97.8 
			  White British  56.6 57.3 60.1 622 47.0 484  95.8 96.9 97.4 97.8 
			  Irish  61.8 62.5 65.8 65.0 54.1 53.6  96.3 96.8 97.1 97.4 
			  Traveller of Irish Heritage  39.1 39.7 22.2 23.2 19.0 14.5  82.8 82.5 76.2 81.2 
			  Gypsy/Roma  22.5 12.7 20.0 11.8 11.3 5.9  78.3 81.3 80.0 79.4 
			  Any other white background  58.2 61.3 63.7 65.3 50.4 51.3  93.7 95.9 97.7 98.0 
			   Mixed  55.4 54.4 59.9 61.2 46.2 46.8  94.9 95.9 97.3 97.4 
			  White and Black Caribbean  46.8 449 50.0 54.2 34.8 37.4  94.4 95.3 96.2 97.0 
			  White and Black African  55.1 51 62.1 61.5 46.2 47.3  92.7 93.8 97.8 969 
			  White and Asian  68.6 69.9 70.6 72.1 59.6 62.6  96.4 97.2 98.6 97.8 
			  Any other mixed background  57.7 57.1 64.2 63.3 51.1 49.1  95.1 962 977 97.7 
			   Asian  59 61.4 64.3 66.9 48.4 51.1  96.9 98 98.7 98.9 
			  Indian 68.8 70.3 71.9 75.8 76.6 62.8 64.3 97.6 98.1 988 99.3 99.4 
			  Pakistani 44.9 48.1 52.1 54.1 57.9 36.5 39.0 95.3 96.4 97.7 98.2 98.3 
			  Bangladeshi 49.0 526 55.2 585 62.2 37.9 42.4 95.1 96.4 97.8 99.0 99.4 
			  Any other Asian background  64.6 65.9 69.2 72.4 55.6 60.7  94 96.1 97.7 98.6 
			   Black  43.1 45.9 51.4 55.1 36.0 39.8  94 96 981 98.2 
			  Black Caribbean 368 403 43.8 49.4 52.9 32.5 36.0 946 957 96.9 98.4 98.5 
			  Black African 43.7 46.8 48.9 53.3 56.7 39.8 43.3 91.8 92.2 95.2 98.1 98.2 
			  Any other black background 425 40.3 43 50.8 55.7 33.5 38.1 93.6 94 95.5 96.7 97.1 
			   Chinese 73.5 79.2 79.1 85.1 84.8 75.2 72.2 95.6 96.1 96.9 99.4 98.9 
			   Any other ethnic group 54.1 51.2 54.4 59.1 62.3 44.8 46.7 92.4 91.4 93.9 972 973 
			   Unclassified 55.4 52.2 52 54.7 57.1 42.6 43.1 94.2 93.4 95.4 96.7 97.1 
			   All pupils 54.6 56.1 57 60.0 62.2 46.7 48.2 95.0 956 96.8 97.5 97.9 
			   
			  Total  
			   White 49.5 51.3 52.3 55.1 57.5 43.0 44.4 942 94.7 96.2 96.8 97.3 
			  White British  51.3 52.3 55.0 57.5 42.9 44.3  94.7 96.2 96.8 97.3 
			  Irish  60.1 58.3 62.6 61.3 50.7 50.1  95.7 96.2 96.6 96.6 
			  Traveller of Irish Heritage  41.6 30.2 225 19.0 20.7 11.1  82.6 79.2 69.4 77.0 
			  Gypsy/Roma  23.2 13.5 14.7 10.4 9.1 3.9  78.5 78.6 77.6 78.6 
			  Any other white background  52 55 58.9 60.1 462 46.8  91.9 946 97.2 97.5 
			   Mixed  49.3 49.7 54.6 56.1 41.9 42.8  93.7 95 96.4 96.9 
			  White and Black Caribbean  39 9 397 44.1 47.3 30.5 32.6  93.4 94.2 95.3 96.3 
			  White and Black African  47.5 47.1 55.5 56.8 40.8 43.1  91.6 93.5 97.0 96.9 
			  White and Asian  64.7 65.7 67.4 68.9 56.6 59.4  96.2 96.7 97.7 97.8 
			  Any other mixed background  51.6 52.3 58.6 58.7 46.1 45.2  932 95.3 96.7 97.2 
			   Asian  52.8 55.3 58.7 61.0 44.0 46.1  96.2 97.4 98.4 98.4 
			  Indian 62.6 65.2 66.6 70.1 71.7 574 59.1 97.4 97.7 98.4 99.1 99.1 
			  Pakistani 38.5 41.5 45.2 48.4 51.4 32.5 34.6 94.3 95.3 97 978 97.9 
			  Bangladeshi 43.3 45.5 484 52.7 56.6 34.5 39.0 93.6 955 97.2 98.3 98.6 
			  Any other Asian background  59 60 63.8 646 50.8 51.6  94 95.3 98.0 97.4 
			   Black  36.3 39 44.7 48.1 30.7 33.6  92.9 951 973 97.5 
			  Black Caribbean 29.2 329 35.7 41.7 44.9 27.1 29.5 92.4 937 956 97.1 97.4 
			  Black African 37.4 40.7 43.3 48.3 51.0 35.0 37.5 91.0 92 94.8 97.9 978 
			  Any other black background 35.2 33.6 362 41.7 47.1 27.5 31 2 91.4 92.5 943 95.9 96.4 
			   Chinese 70.1 74.8 74.2 81.0 80.0 68.8 65.8 94.7 95.7 96.1 99.0 99.1 
			   Any other ethnic group 46.8 45.8 48.4 54.0 56.3 40.3 41.7 90.9 89.8 926 96.9 96.7 
			   Unclassified 502 47.4 47 1 49.6 52.1 38.2 39.3 93.0 923 94.6 96.0 96.2 
			   All pupils 49.0 507 51.9 54.9 57.3 42 5 44.0 94.0 94.5 96.1 96.9 97.3 
			  Sources: 2002 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtml 2003 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtml 2004 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000564/index.shtml 2005 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000640/index.shtml 2006 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000708/index.shtml 
		
	
	
		
			  Achievements at GCSE and equivalents, 2002-06 by free school meal eligibility and gender 
			5+ A*-C  5+ A*-C inc. E and M  Any passes 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2005  2006  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Boys  
			  FSM 18.8 20.4 22.1 25.5 28.7 15.2 16.8 85.2 85.7 89.8 91.2 92.7 
			  Non-FSM 48.2 49.9 50.8 53.8 56.2 42.1 43.4 94.9 95.2 96.4 97.1 97.5 
			  Unclassified 11.9 0.2 35.4 39.0 42.3 28.2 31.3 38.5 6.8 85.5 91.8 93.2 
			  All pupils 43.7 45.5 46.8 49.9 52.6 38.4 39.9 93.1 93.5 95.4 96.3 96.8 
			   
			  Girls  
			  FSM 27.3 28.5 30.2 34.4 37.4 20.8 22.5 89.3 89.9 92.7 93.8 95.0 
			  Non-FSM 59.3 60.8 61.4 64.2 66.0 50.9 52.1 96.1 96.6 97.5 98.1 98.3 
			  Unclassified 17.5 0.0 48.5 45.8 47.7 34.3 35.3 46.8 6.4 97.6 94.6 94.1 
			  All pupils 54.6 56.1 57.0 60.0 62.2 46.7 48.2 95.0 95.6 96.8 97.5 97.9 
			   
			  Total  
			  FSM 23.0 24.4 26.1 29.9 33.0 18.0 19.6 87.2 87.8 91.2 92.5 93.8 
			  Non-FSM 53.7 55.2 56.1 58.9 61.0 46.4 47.7 95.5 95.9 96.9 97.6 97.9 
			  Unclassified 13.1 0.1 41.1 42.3 44.8 31.2 33.2 40.4 6.7 90.8 93.2 93.7 
			  All pupils 49.0 50.7 51.9 54.9 57.3 42.5 44.0 94.0 94.5 96.1 96.9 97.3 
			  Sources: 2002 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtml 2003 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtml 2004 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000564/index.shtml 2005 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000640/index.shtml 2006 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000708/index.shtml 
		
	
	
		
			  Achievements at GCSE and equivalents, 2002-06 by first language and gender 
			5+ A*-C  5+ A*-C inc. E and M  Any passes 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2005  2006  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Boys  
			  English 44.3 46.0 47.0 50.0 52.7 38.7 40.3 93.5 93.9 95.5 96.2 96.8 
			  Other than English 40.1 42.5 45.0 49.8 51.3 36.1 37.0 92.7 93.2 95.3 97.6 97.5 
			  Unclassified 6.0 3.7 39.0 40.0 44.8 28.0 33.0 29.1 14.1 89.6 92.4 93.7 
			  All pupils 43.7 45.5 46.8 49.9 52.6 38.4 39.9 93.1 93.5 95.4 96.3 96.8 
			  Girls  
			  English 55.0 56.4 57.1 60.1 62.3 46.9 48.4 95.2 95.7 96.8 97.4 97.8 
			  Other than English 51.8 53.9 56.7 60.0 62.3 44.7 46.7 94.6 95.2 96.8 98.4 98.4 
			  Unclassified 18.1 34.4 46.0 45.0 45.1 33.4 33.7 49.6 55.9 96.7 94.6 94.1 
			  All pupils 54.6 56.1 57.0 60.0 62.2 46.7 48.2 95.0 95.6 96.8 97.5 97.9 
			  Total  
			  English 49.5 51.1 52.0 55.0 57.4 42.8 44.3 94.3 94.8 96.1 96.8 97.3 
			  Other than English 45.8 48.0 50.7 54.8 56.7 40.3 41.7 93.6 94.2 96.0 98.0 97.9 
			  Unclassified 8.8 14.1 41.8 42.4 44.9 30.6 33.3 33.8 28.2 92.5 93.5 93.9 
			  All pupils 49.0 50.7 51.9 54.9 57.3 42.5 44.0 94.0 94.5 96.1 96.9 97.3 
			  Sources: 2002 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtmf 2003 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000448/index.shtml 2004 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000564/index.shtml 2005 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000640/index.shtml 2006 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000708/index.shtml

Gifted Children

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of how long it will take for one million children to benefit from the gifted and talented programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The national gifted and talented programme is designed to meet the needs of all children and young people identified as gifted and talented by their schools. Currently some 91 per cent. of secondary schools and 65 per cent. of primary schools are identifying about 733,000 gifted and talented learners. We want all schools to identify their gifted and talented pupils now, so giving a national population of around one million. We want all to join the new Young Gifted and Talented Learner Academy (YGT). Every school should already have access to an identified leading teacher for gifted and talented, a lead professional responsible for securing high quality personalised learning and support.

Head Teachers: Retirement

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of head teachers in England were within  (a) one year,  (b) two years,  (c) three years,  (d) five years and  (e) 10 years of normal pension age at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The normal pension age (NPA) of teachers who entered service before 1 January 2007 is 60. Entrants to the profession from that date have a NPA of 65. NPA is the age at which members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme can retire without any actuarial reduction to their pension benefits.
	The following table provides the percentage of full-time head teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in England within one year, two years, three years, five years and 10 years of the NPA 60, in March 2005, the latest information available.
	
		
			  Full-time head teachers in maintained sector schools in England, percentage in service by number of years before the normal pension age (60), March 2006 (provisional) 
			  Years before NPA  Percentage of head teachers( 1) 
			 1 3.0 
			 2 7.2 
			 3 12.3 
			 5 25.0 
			 10 57.8 
			 (1) Percentages are cumulative.  Note: Reforms of the Teachers' Pension Scheme that were introduced in January 2007and which include a NPA of 65 for new entrantsincluded new provisions that are specifically aimed at encouraging teachers to extend their working lives. These new provisions will provide a real and attractive alternative to teachers' traditional approach to retirement.  Source: Database of Teacher Records

Head Teachers: Vacancies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the most recent vacancy rates were for  (a) head teachers and  (b) teachers in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table provides local authority maintained schools regular full-time teacher and head teacher vacancy rates in each local authority area, in January 2007. Rates for individual local authorities, particularly for head teachers, are based on small numbers and may vary considerably from year to year.
	
		
			  Full-time regular teachers and head teacher vacancy rates( 1)  in local authority maintained schools by, local authority and Government office region in England: January 2007 
			   Local authority maintained full-time vacancy rates( 2) 
			   Teacher vacancy rate (percentage)  Head teacher vacancy rate (percentage) 
			 Gateshead 0.1 0.0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 0.7 0.0 
			 North Tyneside 0.2 0.0 
			 South Tyneside 0.7 0.0 
			 Sunderland 0.4 0.0 
			 Hartlepool 1.3 0.0 
			 Middlesbrough 0.7 0.0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1.8 0.0 
			 Stockton on Tees 0.8 0.0 
			 Darlington 0.3 0.0 
			 Durham 1.1 1.0 
			 Northumberland 0.0 0.0 
			  North East 0.4 0.0 
			
			 Cumbria 0.1 0.0 
			 Cheshire 0.4 0.6 
			 Halton 0.3 0.0 
			 Warrington 0.0 0.0 
			 Bolton 0.0 0.0 
			 Bury 0.2 1.2 
			 Manchester 0.0 0.0 
			 Oldham 0.3 0.0 
			 Rochdale 0.9 3.2 
			 Salford 0.5 2.0 
			 Stockport 0.4 1.6 
			 Tameside 0.4 0.0 
			 Trafford 0.7 0.0 
			 Wigan 0.4 1.5 
			 Lancashire 0.3 0.8 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 0.3 0.0 
			 Blackpool 0.5 0.0 
			 Knowsley 0.6 0.0 
			 Liverpool 0.5 0.5 
			 St. Helens 0.1 0.0 
			 Sefton 0.0 0.0 
			 Wirral 0.0 0.0 
			  North West 0.3 0.6 
			
			 Kingston-Upon-Hull, City of 0.6 0.0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 0.2 0.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 0.8 2.8 
			 North Lincolnshire 1.1 2.5 
			 North Yorkshire 0.2 0.3 
			 York 0.1 0.0 
			 Barnsley 1.0 2.1 
			 Doncaster 0.9 0.0 
			 Rotherham 0.5 1.6 
			 Sheffield 0.7 0.0 
			 Bradford 1.5 0.9 
			 Calderdale 0.2 0.0 
			 Kirklees 0.2 0.0 
			 Leeds 0.0 0.0 
			 Wakefield 0.1 0.0 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 0.5 0.5 
			
			 Derbyshire 0.5 0.9 
			 Derby 0.4 0.0 
			 Leicestershire 0.4 0.0 
			 Leicester 0.4 1.0 
			 Rutland 0.4 0.0 
			 Lincolnshire 0.2 0.6 
			 Northamptonshire 0.5 2.8 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.0 0.0 
			 Nottingham 0.7 1.7 
			  East Midlands 0.3 0.9 
			
			 Herefordshire 0.0 0.0 
			 Worcestershire 0.6 0.0 
			 Shropshire 0.1 0.0 
			 Telford and Wrekin 0.0 0.0 
			 Staffordshire 0.4 0.0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 0.5 1.0 
			 Warwickshire 0.4 0.0 
			 Birmingham 0.9 1,7 
			 Coventry 0.6 0.9 
			 Dudley 0.7 0.0 
			 Sandwell 0.1 0.0 
			 Solihull 1.0 0.0 
			 Walsall 0.3 0.9 
			 Wolverhampton 1.4 6.3 
			  West Midlands 0.6 0.7 
			
			 Cambridgeshire 0.5 0.4 
			 Peterborough 0.1 0.0 
			 Norfolk 1.0 0.9 
			 Suffolk 0.8 0.9 
			 Bedfordshire 0.7 1.5 
			 Luton 1.9 0.0 
			 Essex 0.4 0.0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1.3 0.0 
			 Thurrock 1.1 0.0 
			 Hertfordshire 0.8 0.4 
			  East of England 0.7 0.5 
			
			 City of London 0.0 0.0 
			 Camden 0.2 0.0 
			 Greenwich 1.2 1.2 
			 Hackney 1.2 0.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1.5 0.0 
			 Islington 2.5 0.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1.7 2.9 
			 Lambeth 1.6 1.3 
			 Lewisham 0.9 0.0 
			 Southwark 0.0 0.0 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.9 0.0 
			 Wandsworth 1.9 2.4 
			 Westminster 2.7 1.9 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1.4 0.0 
			 Barnet 0.2 0.0 
			 Bexley 0.8 0.0 
			 Brent 1.2 2.5 
			 Bromley 0.0 0.0 
			 Croydon 0.8 1.7 
			 Ealing 0.8 0.0 
			 Enfield 0.6 0.0 
			 Haringey 1.9 2.7 
			 Harrow 0.3 0.0 
			 Havering 0.5 2.4 
			 Hillingdon 1.1 0.0 
			 Hounslow 1.0 0.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0.8 0.0 
			 Merton 1.1 0.0 
			 Newham 1.7 1.1 
			 Redbridge 0.5 0.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2.0 4.3 
			 Sutton 0.9 16 
			 Waltham Forest 1.6 2.6 
			  London 1.0 0.8 
			
			 Bracknell Forest 0.6 0.0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0.6 0.0 
			 West Berkshire 0.7 1.3 
			 Reading 0.6 0.0 
			 Slough 1.6 2.2 
			 Wokingham 0.4 0.0 
			 Buckinghamshire 0.9 0.4 
			 Milton Keynes 0.7 0.0 
			 East Sussex 0.5 1.5 
			 Brighton and Hove 0.3 0.0 
			 Hampshire 0.4 0.2 
			 Portsmouth 0.8 0.0 
			 Southampton 0.7 0.0 
			 Isle of Wight 0.9 0.0 
			 Kent 0.7 1.2 
			 Medway 0.8 0.0 
			 Oxfordshire 0.9 1.7 
			 Surrey 0.6 0.5 
			 West Sussex 0.5 0.7 
			  South East 0.6 0.7 
			
			 Isles of Scilly 0.0 0.0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0.2 0.0 
			 City of Bristol 0.5 0.0 
			 North Somerset 0.1 0.0 
			 South Gloucestershire 0.1 0.0 
			 Cornwall 0.1 0.0 
			 Devon 0.2 0.0 
			 Plymouth 0.1 0.0 
			 Torbay 0.3 0.0 
			 Dorset 0.2 0.6 
			 Poole 0.3 0.0 
			 Bournemouth 0.0 0.0 
			 Gloucestershire 0.5 1.7 
			 Somerset 0.2 0.4 
			 Wiltshire 0.2 0.4 
			 Swindon 0.9 0.0 
			  South West 0.3 0.3 
			
			  England 0.6 0.6 
			 (1) Vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post i.e. full-time regular teachers in (or on secondment from) maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, plus full-time regular divided service, peripatetic, advisory and miscellaneous teachers. (2) Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis of less than one term.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because of rounding.  Source: 618g survey

Higher Education: Admissions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the timescale is for the National Council for Educational Excellence inquiry into university applications.

Jim Knight: We are currently working to establish a terms of reference and timescale with the Department for Innovations, Universities and Skills and the Sutton Trust for this particular piece of work. The National Council for Educational Excellence will be discussing the recommendations from each of its mobilisation strands at its spring 2008 meeting and will hope to include outcomes from this work.

Intensive Family Support Schemes

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities have established support schemes as part of the proposed national network of intensive family support schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The list of areas which have established a family intervention project to provide intensive support to families, has been in the public domain since the launch in April 2007. These areas are as follows.
	Barnsley
	Birmingham
	Blackburn
	Blackpool
	Bolton
	Bournemouth
	Bradford
	Brighton
	Bristol
	Burnley
	Camden
	Coventry
	Darlington
	Derby
	Doncaster
	Exeter
	Gloucester
	Hackney
	Harlow
	Hartlepool
	Hastings
	Ipswich
	Kingston Upon Hull
	Kirklees
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Liverpool
	Manchester
	Mansfield
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Newham
	Nottingham
	Plymouth
	Rochdale
	Sandwell
	South Tyneside
	Newham
	Nottingham
	Plymouth
	Rochdale
	Sandwell
	Norwich
	Oldham
	Portsmouth
	Salford
	Sheffield
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Southwark
	Stoke
	Sunderland
	Tower Hamlets
	Wakefield
	Westminster
	Wirral

Literacy: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of changes in reading standards in primary schools since 1977; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 1996, the National Foundation for Educational Research found that there had been little or no improvement in literacy standards for most of the period since the second world war. Improving standards of literacy at all stages of education has therefore been one of this Government's top priorities. Primary literacy standards as measured by the results of national curriculum tests are now at their highest levels ever. No Government have achieved the sustained improvements in primary results that we have.
	Since the introduction of national curriculum tests in 1995, results in English have improved significantly. Today, four out of five 11-year-olds are reaching the target level 4 compared with under half in 1995.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils achieving level 4+ in English 
			   Level 4+  Level 5 
			 1995 49 7 
			 1996 57 12 
			 1997 63 16 
			 1998 65 17 
			 1999 71 22 
			 2000 75 29 
			 2001 75 29 
			 2002 75 29 
			 2003 75 27 
			 2004 78 27 
			 2005 79 27 
			 2006 79 32 
			 2007(1) 80 33 
			 (1) Provisional data. 
		
	
	Results in reading were not reported separately before 1997. Since 1997, we have also seen dramatic improvements in the proportion achieving level 4 and above. In 2007, a third of 11-year-olds achieved the higher level 5 in reading, the standard expected of 14-year-olds.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils achieving level 4+ in reading 
			   Level 4  Level 5 
			 1997 67 20 
			 1998 71 23 
			 1999 78 31 
			 2000 83 42 
			 2001 82 42 
			 2002 80 38 
			 2003 81 42 
			 2004 83 39 
			 2005 84 43 
			 2006 83 47 
			 2007(1) 84 48 
			 (1) Provisional data. 
		
	
	Although the results achieved by 11-year-olds in 2007 are the best ever, we know that we can and must achieve more. I believe we are right to be ambitious for the system and for what individual pupils can achievethat is why we have set such stretching national targets for improvements in standards.
	We have a strong platform for securing further improvements. From this autumn, every primary school is using the renewed Primary Framework which puts phonics at the heart of the teaching of reading. This is the most significant enhancement to the Primary National Strategy since we first introduced the literacy hour in 1998. We are also rolling out nationally the Every Child A Reader (ECAR) programme. By 2011, this programme will provide 30,000 six-year-olds who have difficulty reading with intensive one-to-one tuition each year.
	We are also developing a new programme of intensive support for writing in primary schoolsEvery Child a Writerto ensure that every teacher uses the best teaching methods, including one-to-one coaching, in areas of writing which primary children find hardest to master.

Minibuses: Licensing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with his colleagues at the Department for Transport on the effect on schools' extra-curricular activities of the way in which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency interprets new licensing requirements in respect of minibus drivers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Following extended discussions with the Department for Transport and its agencies at both ministerial and official level, my Department published a policy statement in April 2006, Licensing Incidental Drivers of the School Minibus, which clarifies the existing lawthere is no new requirement. It explains that school staff who are not contracted to drive the minibus are exempt from having to hold a D1 PCV licence and may drive the minibus on their car licence subject to other conditions of exemption being met. Such incidental drivers are commonly trained in conjunction with the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS), though it is also open for local authorities to arrange for their incidental drivers to take the D1 PCV route as good practice. Our policy also states:
	In the medium term, when a school replaces its minibus, it is likely to lose its exemption because newer minibuses tend to weigh more than 3.5 tonnes, and the Government has no plans to change the weight limit on the exemption. Therefore we advise schools to consider investing in D1 PCV training over the next few years, since the law will require it in the longer term, if or when they move to a heavier minibus.

National Literacy Strategy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) effectiveness of the National Literacy Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: From 1998-99 to 2003-04 the Department has allocated 531.2 million to primary schools and local authorities to support the National Literacy Strategy. From 2004-05 to 2007-08 the Department has allocated a further 720.5 million to support the Primary National Strategy (formerly the National Literacy Strategy and the National Numeracy Strategy). We are unable to split the latter figure down to specific literacy funding as the precise allocations between literacy and numeracy are a matter for each local authority taking account of local needs.
	The following table shows a breakdown of Standards Fund grants by year since 1998.
	
		
			million 
			  National Literacy Strategy  
			 1998-99 62.7 
			 1999-2000 72.8 
			 2000-01 84.5 
			 2001-02 102.6 
			 2002-03 101.2 
			 2003-04 107.4 
			 Total 531.2 
			   
			  Primary National Strategy  
			 2004-05 131 
			 2005-06 185 
			 2006-07 198 
			 2007-08 206.5 
			 Total 720.5 
		
	
	In addition to these grants the Department also holds a contract for the central delivery of the National Strategies. This contract includes the provision of an education field force, continuing professional development (CPD) materials and training events. The central delivery support for primary literacy in the current comprehensive spending review (CSR) period (FY 2005-06 to FY 2007-08) is approximately 10 million.
	Improving standards of literacy is one of the Government's top priorities. As part of the drive to raise standards in education, the Government introduced the National Literacy Strategy in 1998 and the results achieved by 11-year-olds since 1997 as measured by national curriculum tests in English have risen dramatically. Provisional data for 2007 show that 80 per cent. of 11-year-olds in England reached the expected level or above, an increase of 17 percentage points since 1997.
	The renewed primary literacy strategy, with a stronger emphasis on phonics, Every Child a Reader and Every Child a Writer to help those pupils who are struggling, will help to ensure that we maintain and extend the improvements we have already achieved.

Ofsted: Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent by OFSTED on  (a) taxis,  (b) Government cars,  (c) internal flights in the UK,  (d) overseas flights,  (e) rail travel and  (f) couriered documents in each (i) year and (ii) quarter since 31 March 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.

School Leaving

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish each representation received from business groups on the proposal to raise the education leaving age to 18 years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not normally publish individual responses to consultations where these are received in confidence. A summary of the responses received was published on 24 July and a copy was placed in the House Library.

School Leaving: Cornwall

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school leavers in Cornwall remained in the county and did not enter higher education in each year since 1979; and what percentage of all such school leavers this figure represented in each year.

Jim Knight: We do not have any information on the movement of school leavers in or out of local authority areas.

School Leaving: Qualifications

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils left school at 16 years with  (a) no GCSE qualifications and  (b) no GCSE qualifications but with vocational qualifications in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007 to date.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the percentage of 15 year-old pupils(1) leaving school with no full GCSE at grade A*-G and no full GCSE but a pass in an equivalent qualification in the Key Stage 4 achievement and attainment tables:
	
		
			   Percentage of 15 year old pupils1 leaving school with: 
			   No GCSE at grade A*-G  No GCSE but a pass in an equivalent qualification 
			 1997 7.7 0.0(2) 
			 2007 4.7 2.0 
			 (1). Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August.  (2). The 1997 figure of 0.0 per cent. equates to around 120 students. 
		
	
	These figures are not directly comparable. In 1997, only GNVQs were included as equivalent to GCSEs in Key Stage 4 Achievement and attainment tables data whereas in 2007, a range of other qualifications have been approved for use pre-16.

School Meals: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding for the school meals service  (a) in total and  (b) per meal was provided by each local authority in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected by this Department. The levels of funding for school meals services are determined at local level by local authorities and schools. This Government are however investing around 650 million of additional funding between 2005 and 2011 to help support the drive towards improved school food.

School Meals: Imports

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of  (a) beef,  (b) lamb,  (c) pork and  (d) dairy products used in (i) schools and (ii) sixth form colleges were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected by this Department.

Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained schools opened in each year since 1980, excluding those that resulted from merger or amalgamations, those that closed and re-opened as new schools, and those which opened as a result of a move from a three tier to a two tier system.

Jim Knight: Some 921 maintained schools have opened since 1992, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Date opened  Number opened 
			 1992 2 
			 1993 0 
			 1994 1 
			 1995 39 
			 1996 111 
			 1997 61 
			 1998 85 
			 1999 133 
			 2000 121 
			 2001 141 
			 2002 55 
			 2003 40 
			 2004 33 
			 2005 56 
			 2006 23 
			 2007 20 
			 Grand total 921 
		
	
	It was not mandatory to supply school opening dates prior to January 2002 and therefore the figures for the years 1992 to 2002 may not be complete.
	There are no schools with opening dates listed prior to 1992. As such, it is not possible to give figures from 1980 to 1992.

Schools: Admissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many admissions there were to Castle Point secondary schools in each of the last three years; how many admission appeals there were in each of those years; and what percentage of decisions on admission applications were appealed against in each of those years.

Jim Knight: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Appeals by parents against non-admission of their children to maintained secondary schools 2003-04 to 2005-06: Castle Point parliamentary constituency 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Number of admissions (1) 1,350 1,318 1,339 
			 
			 Appeals lodged
			 Number 53 87 80 
			 Percentage(2) 3.9 6.6 6.0 
			 
			 Appeals heard by an appeals panel
			 Number 49 81 74 
			 Percentage(3) 92.5 93.1 92.5 
			 
			 Appeals decided in parents' favour
			 Number 12 15 19 
			 Percentage (4) 24.5 18.5 25.7 
			 (1) Number of new admissions, irrespective of age, who joined a school at any time during September to January of the relevant academic year.  (2) The number of appeals lodged expressed as a percentage of the total number of new admissions.  (3) Number of appeals heard by an appeals panel expressed as a percentage of the number of appeals lodged.  (4) Number of appeals decided in parents' favour expressed as a percentage of the number of appeals heard by an appeals panel.   Source:  School Census

Schools: Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much  (a) funding and  (b) funding per pupil was provided to (i) academies, (ii) city technology colleges, (iii) grammar schools, (iv) community schools, (v) foundation schools, (vi) voluntary aided schools, (vii) voluntary controlled schools and (viii) specialist schools.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Tables A-C give a breakdown of the available data for the various types of maintained school listed at (iii) to (viii).
	Table D gives data for Academies and City Technology Colleges (CTCs). This table is not comparable with the others because Academies and CTCs have academic year budgets, and also receive funding arising from their independent status. For example, they receive funding for VAT liability, and also funding which derives from their responsibility for some expenditure which for maintained schools is met from centrally retained local authority funding. The average level of funding is also high because nearly all pupils at Academies (and all pupils at CTCs) are of secondary age; and Academies mainly serve areas with a high level of pupil deprivation, which itself increases funding levels.
	
		
			  Funding allocated to local authority maintained schools in England at the start of the 2007-08 financial year:  Table A: Community/ Community Special/ Foundation/ Foundation Special/ Voluntary Aided/ Voluntary Controlled/ Not known 
			  Type of school( 1)  Number of schools( 2)  Total budget share plus grants allocated to school( 3,4 ) ()  January 2007 pupil count (FTE registered pupils)( 5)  Average total budget share plus grants per pupil allocated to school( 6 ) () 
			 LEA Nursery School 447 160,940,709 25,365.4 6,340 
			 Community 12,896 18,401,085,366 4,704,071.3 3,910 
			 Community Special 998 1,480,423,242 94,281.2 15,700 
			 Foundation 964 3,185,586,879 765,201.3 4,160 
			 Foundation Special 17 36,790,326 2,612.1 14,080 
			 Voluntary aided 4,299 4,853,247,519 1,272,285.9 3,810 
			 Voluntary controlled 2,671 1,846,729,371 520,140.9 3,550 
			 Not known 26 9,636,293 2,191.9 4,400 
			 Total (all schools) 22,318 29,974,439,705 7,386,150.0 4,060 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Grammar Schools/ Non Grammar Schools/ Not known 
			  Type of school( 1)  Number of schools( 2)  Total budget share plus grants allocated to school( 3,4)  ()  January 2007 Pupil Count (FTE registered pupils)( 5)  Average total budget share plus grants per pupil allocated to school( 6 ) () 
			 Grammar Schools 164 654,002,251 156,869.4 4,170 
			 Non Grammar Schools 22,128 29,310,801,161 7,227,088.8 4,060 
			 Not known 26 9,636,293 2,191.9 4,400 
			 Total (all schools) 22,318 29,974,439,705 7,386,150.0 4,060 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Specialist Schools/ Non Specialist Schools/ Not Known 
			  Type of school( 1)  Number of schools( 2)  Total budget share plus grants allocated to school( 3,4)  ()  January 2007 Pupil Count (FTE registered pupils)( 5)  Average total budget share plus grants per pupil allocated to school( 6)  () 
			 Specialist Schools 2,797 12,824,638,071 2,850,667.1 4,500 
			 Non Specialist Schools 19,495 17,140,165,340 4,533,291.1 3,780 
			 Not known 26 9,636,293 2,191.9 4,400 
			 Total (all schools) 22,318 29,974,439,705 7,386,150.0 4,060 
			 (1) The school types are drawn from Edubase (the Department's database of educational establishments) and matched across to the financial data reported on Section 52 Budget to give the figures for each school type. The 26 schools with unknown classifications are those where there is no match between Section 52 and Edubase. (2) Included are all local authority maintained schools in England reported by local authorities on their 2007-08 Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2). All tables include primary, secondary and special schools. (3) Budget share plus grants is the combination of the school's individual budget share plus any revenue grants allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. For 2007-08 this comprises the Total Budget Share plus any School Standards Grant (including personalisation), School Development Grant, Other Standards Fund Allocation, Devolved School Meals Grant, Targeted School Meals Grant, Threshold and Performance Pay and Support for Schools in Financial Difficulty allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. Financial data are drawn from local authorities' 2007-08 Section 52 Budget Statements (Table 2) submitted to the DCSF. This does not include any capital funding allocated to schools. (4) The amount of money allocated to a school depends very much on the individual local authorities' own policy for funding their schools. Different authorities retain varying amounts of funding centrally to spend on behalf of their schools while others chose to give schools more autonomy over how they spend their money by devolving more funding to the individual school. (5) The January 2007 pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil amounts are as reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Budget Statement comprising the full time equivalent number pupils registered at the school used for the initial determination of the school's budget share under the local authority's allocation formula. (6) Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding.  Notes: 1. 2007-08 data are subject to change by the local authority. 2. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 15 November 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table D: Funding allocated to Academies and CTCs for the Academic year 2007/08 
			  Type of school  Number of schools( 1)  Total revenue funding( 2 ) ()  Pupil numbers( 3)  Average per pupil () 
			 Academies 84 446,549,179 78,507 5,688 
			 CTCs 4 27,328,313 5,091 5,368 
			 (1) BRIT City College For The Technology Of The Arts is funded as an academy and included as such in the table although its legal status is the same as a CTC. (2) Includes all revenue grants payable by DCSF except start-up grants and earmarked annual grants, which are excluded. School Standards Grant payable in May 2008 is included on an estimated basis. Does not include Standards Fund and SEN funding payable through or by local authorities. (3) Academies are funded on forecast numbers at September 2007; CTCs on agreed pupil numbers related to capacity.

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the plans to install sprinkler systems in new and refurbished schools extend to all categories of state schools.

Jim Knight: The Department's policy on sprinkler systems is that a risk assessment should be undertaken for new and refurbishment projects in all categories of state-funded schools. To help local authorities and school designers to decide when sprinklers are needed, DCSF has produced a risk assessment tool and a cost benefit analysis tool. See
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/fire.
	Our expectation is that nearly all new schools and some refurbished schools will have fire sprinklers installed, however this is not a compulsory measure. There may be cases where local authorities or other promoters of schools consider that sprinklers are not needed. If so, they will need to be able to demonstrate that such schools are very low risk and that sprinklers would not represent good value for money.

Schools: Fire Prevention

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in West Leeds are fitted with sprinkler systems.

Jim Knight: Currently four schools in the constituency of Leeds West are fitted with sprinklers. A further 11 or so schools in West Leeds in the Pudsey and Leeds North West constituencies also have sprinkler systems fitted. Since 2001, Leeds Education have had a policy to fit sprinklers in all new build schools and the new PFI schools being constructed and the new BSF schools in planning will all have sprinkler systems installed. Refurbishment schemes in Leeds are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Schools: Special Educational Needs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which schools more than half of the pupils have special educational needs, excluding special schools.

Jim Knight: In the table placed in the House Library the 731 schools in which more than half of the pupils have special educational needs is shown. Independent special schools have been included in the list as the indicator used is not sufficiently robust to enable them to be excluded.

Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools had more than  (a) 1,000 pupils and  (b) 1,500 pupils in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007.

Jim Knight: The requested information is given in the table
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies( 1) : Number of schools and pupils by size of school( 2) position in January each year: 1997 and 2007England 
			   Schools with up to and including 1,000 pupils 
			   Number of schools  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils( 3) 
			 1997 2,429 1,612,510 52.8 
			 2007 1,841 1,290,040 38.8 
		
	
	
		
			   Schools with 1,001 to 1,500 pupils 
			   Number of schools  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils( 3) 
			 1997 1,019 1,216,690 39.8 
			 2007 1,270 1,539,480 46.3 
		
	
	
		
			   Schools with 1,501 to 2,000 pupils 
			   Number of schools  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils( 3) 
			 1997 130 215,010 7.0 
			 2007 266 444,480 13.4 
		
	
	
		
			   Schools with more than 2,000 pupils 
			   Number of schools  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils( 3) 
			 1997 6 12,650 0.4 
			 2007 22 47,540 1.4 
		
	
	
		
			   All schools 
			   Number of schools  Number of pupils  Percentage of pupils( 3) 
			 1997 3,584 3,056,870 100.0 
			 2007 3,399 3,321,530 100.0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Based on a headcount of pupils. Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) The number of pupils by size band of schools expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10  Source: School Census

Secondary Education: Admissions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of secondary schools were oversubscribed for admissions in 2007.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 15 November 2007,  Official Report, column 439W.

Secondary Education: Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list all maintained secondary schools with over 50 per cent. of children eligible for free school meals, ranked by  (a) percentage of children eligible for free school meals and  (b) percentage of children achieving (i) five or more A* to C GCSEs and (ii) five or more A* to C GCSEs including maths and English.

Jim Knight: This information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Secondary Education: Surveys

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the results of the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey to be published.

Jim Knight: The results of the 2007 Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey are expected to be published in early 2008.

Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust about its future role.

Jim Knight: The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is a valued strategic partner. The Department has many discussions with the SSAT on their ongoing work to support specialist schools and academies.

Supply Teachers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many supply teacher days there were in each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in Merseyside in 2006-07; and what the average number of such days was in each category of school in England in the same period.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Labour Turnover

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of school teachers left the profession before completing five years of teaching  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by subject in (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each local education authority area in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Provisional estimates show that the number of full and part-time qualified teachers with less than five years recorded teaching service who left local authority maintained schools in England in 2005-06 was 9,340. It is not known how many of these were going to teaching posts in other education sectors or countries or how many were leaving teaching permanently. This information is not available broken down by subject, region or local authority.
	The source of this information is the Database of Teacher Records (DTR).

Teachers: Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average pay of  (a) teachers and  (b) principals in (i) academies and (ii) other maintained schools.

Jim Knight: Information on the average pay of teachers is available from the Database of Teacher Records an administrative source used primarily for pension administration purposes. The average pay of teachers in Academy schools is, however, not currently available because the coverage and completeness of these data is not yet sufficient to create a meaningful average. The average pay of all full-time regular qualified classroom teachers, excluding leadership grades, in other maintained schools in England and Wales in March 2006 was 31,400. The average pay of principals and head teachers in these schools was 51,800. The overall average for all grades was 34,000. These figures are the latest available and are provisional estimates.

Teachers: Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of average teacher pay relative to average  (a) police pay,  (b) nurse pay,  (c) GP pay and  (d) private sector pay in each year since 1992.

Jim Knight: Estimates have not been calculated in this form. The Government provide evidence on teachers' pay issues and related matters to the independent School Teachers Review Body (STRB) as it sees fit. The STRB takes a range of information into account when making recommendations on teachers' pay, including factors identified in its statutory remit letter.

Teachers: Pension

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) gross and  (b) net cost of the teachers' pension scheme was in each year from 1987-88 to 2007-08.

Jim Knight: Figures for gross expenditure of the Teachers' Pension Scheme were provided in the answer given to the hon. Member on 1 November 2006,  Official Report, column 447W and are repeated as follows, together with net expenditure figures for financial years 1991-92 to 2006-07. The decrease in net expenditure in 2003-04 was a consequence of a refinancing of the scheme which resulted in an increase in the contribution rate to provide for the Teachers' Pension Scheme meeting the cost of annual pensions increases, which had previously been funded directly by the Exchequer.
	
		
			  Expenditure against the teachers' pension scheme 
			  All figures shown on cash basis in  billion 
			   Gross  Net 
			 1991-92 2.161 0.711 
			 1992-93 2.395 0.804 
			 1993-94 2.635 0.992 
			 1994-95 2.709 1.014 
			 1995-96 2.937 1.186 
			 1996-97 3,254 1.422 
			 1997-98 3.643 1.812 
			 1998-99 3.378 1.493 
			 1999-2000 3.577 1.572 
			 2000-01 3.716 1.568 
			 2001-02 3.957 1.626 
			 2002-03 4.205 1.593 
			 2003-04 4.428 0.796 
			 2004-05 4.747 0.885 
			 2005-06 5.099 1.057 
			 2006-07 5.471 1.273

Teachers: Special Educational Needs

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what training is provided to students studying for  (a) a bachelor's degree and  (b) a postgraduate certificate in education on supporting children with speech, language and communication difficulties;
	(2)  what proportion of the  (a) bachelor's degree in education and  (b) postgraduate qualifications in teaching courses are made up of learning relevant to identifying and supporting children with (i) a disability and (ii) speech and language difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 20 November 2007
	All accredited providers of initial teacher training (ITT) must design their programmes to ensure that they meet the Secretary of State's Requirements for ITT, and that all trainees demonstrate the Professional Standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). These standards are statutory and are rigorously inspected by Ofsted. They were reviewed recently along with all classroom teacher standards and new standards, effective from September 2007, have been significantly strengthened in the areas of special needs and disability. There is no prescription as to how much time must be spent on individual elements of training; the standards are outcome statements, and training must be sufficiently personalised to ensure that every trainee, irrespective of their training route, meets all of them before being recommended for QTS.
	To be awarded QTS, all trainee teachers currently must demonstrate that they:
	know how to make effective personalised provision for those they teach, including those who have special educational needs and disabilities (including children and young people with speech, language and learning difficulties); and
	know and understand the roles of colleagues with specific responsibilities including those with responsibility for learners with special educational needs and disabilities, and other individual learning needs (including colleagues that have specific responsibility for children and young people with speech, language and learning difficulties).

Teachers: Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many training places were  (a) available and  (b) taken up for teachers of (i) mathematics, (ii) physics and (iii) modern languages in each year from 1997 to 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of training places (targets) made available to the Training and Development Agency (TDA) for mathematics, science and modern languages for each academic year between 1997/98 and 2007/08:
	
		
			  Initial teacher training places( 1) : Academic years 1997/98 to 2007/08England 
			   Secondary subject( 2) 
			   Mathematics  Science  Modern foreign languages 
			 1997/98 2,250 3,300 2,650 
			 1998/99 2,150 3,050 2,300 
			 1999/2000 1,680 2,390 2,200 
			 2000/01 1,850 2,690 2,050 
			 2001/02 1,940 2,810 2,050 
			 2002/03 1,940 2,850 2,050 
			 2003/04 2,315 3,225 2,050 
			 2004/05 2,350 3,225 2,050 
			 2005/06 2,350 3,225 1,900 
			 2006/07 2,350 3,225 1,790 
			 2007/08 2,350 3,225 1,670 
			 (1) Includes SCITT but excludes employment-based routes. 2. Places for vocational subjects in 2006/07 are included with the allocation for related academic subject: Science includes places for applied science.  Source: DFES 
		
	
	Recruitment figures to mainstream ITT courses in these subjects for each academic year between 1997/98 and 2006/07 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Recruitment to initial teacher training courses( 1,2) : Academic year 1997/98 to 2006/07England 
			   Secondary subjects 
			   Mathematics  Science( 3)  Of which: Physics  Modern foreign languages 
			 1997/98 1,460 2,790  1,800 
			 1998/99 1,120 2,280  1,660 
			 1999/2000 1,300 2,360  1,470 
			 2000/01 1,290 2,410  1,640 
			 2001/02 1,550 2,590  1,710 
			 2002/03 1,670 2,700  1,730 
			 2003/04 1,940 2,870  1,820 
			 2004/05 2,030 2,830  1,620 
			 2005/06 1,920 2,890  1,500 
			 2006/07 2,000 2,990 350 1,500 
			 (1) Recruitment figures for 2006/07 are provisional and are subject to change. (2) Includes universities and other HE institutions, SCITT and OU, but excludes employment based routes. Recruitment numbers shown are rounded to the nearest 10. (3) Physics is included in the total for science. Prior to 2006/07, the breakdown for science subjects was not available. Excludes applied science from 2004/05 onwards.  Source: TDA survey of ITT providers 
		
	
	Places for applied science, except for 2004/05 are included within the allocation for Science. Updated tables, incorporating final 2006/07 and provisional 2007/08 recruitment data are scheduled to be published in January 2008.
	The Training and Development Agency (TDA) announcement of 12 November 2007 included provisional recruitment figures for physics specialists of 477 for academic year 2007/08.

Training: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether a young person aged 16 or 17 years old who is employed for less than 20 hours a week would receive financial support for the day a week spent in training under the terms of the Education and Skills Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Our aim is that from 2013 all young people will continue to participate in education or training post-16. Young people will be able to work if they choose to but they should still be in education or training, either part-time alongside employment over 20 hours a week, or full-time alongside employment of less than 20 hours a week. We made clear in the document Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16 - from policy to legislation that financial constraints should not be a barrier to participation and we are therefore looking at a variety of options to ensure that financial support for learning is restructured in the most effective way.

Truancy: Parenting Orders

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) parenting orders and  (b) fines have been issued in relation to school truancy in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is given in the following table. The Department has collected data on the number of penalty notices and parenting orders issued in relation to school non-attendance since 1 September 2004. The latest date for which information is available is 13 April 2007.
	
		
			   2004/05  2005/06  1 September 2006 to 13 April 2007 
			 Penalty notices for irregular school attendance 3,483 12,150 7,662 
			 Parenting orders issued by the courts following prosecution for irregular school attendance 427 505 151

Young People: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many 16 to 18-year-olds in Easington constituency were not in education, employment and training at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department's estimate of the number and proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) cannot be disaggregated to local level. However, information collected by the Connexions Service indicates that there were around 2,060 16 to 18-year-olds NEET in County Durham at the end of 2006. This information is not available for Easington constituency.
	We are committed to ensuring that more young people remain in education and training beyond the age of 16 to ensure that they have the skills they need to prosper in a changing economy. Significant progress is being made; 78.1 per cent. of 16-year-olds are in full-time education, a rise of 6 percentage points in 3 years. But, we must focus in particular on young people not in work or learning, and announced on 5 November a range of measures to reduce sharply the proportion NEET. Together with the Education and Training, and Youth Matters reforms, these will make a significant reduction in the proportion of young people NEET and put us on the pathway to ensuring that all young people participate in education or training up to the age of 18.

Youth Services: Birmingham

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to increase spending on youth services in Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: It is for each local authority to decide from within their overall budget how much to spend on the provision of youth services. They have the freedom to decide the best way of delivering while taking into account government policy and local needs. The recent CSR settlement for local government, which included an increase in Formula Grant of 4.2 per cent./3.5 per cent./3.4 per cent. is a very positive one for children and young people's services. These increases in Formula Grant will enable local authorities to build on 10 years of sustained growth in the area and continue our work on improving outcomes for children and young people. In July 2007 the Government published Aiming High for Young People: a ten year strategy for positive activities, with the aim of increasing young people's access to positive leisure time activities. The strategy is supported, over the 2008-11 period, by 184 million of new money, in addition to 495 million of continuing funding and reinvestment of unclaimed assets.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Languages

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in Year 11 were entered for a GCSE in  (a) French,  (b) Spanish,  (c) German,  (d) Mandarin,  (e) Italian and  (f) another modern foreign language in (i) independent and (ii) maintained schools in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: This information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A*to C grade in  (a) metropolitan and  (b) non-metropolitan maintained secondary schools in each year from 1992 to 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This information only be provided can at a disproportionate cost.